Spiritual leader Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj has moved the Supreme Court to challenge the anticipatory bail granted by the Allahabad High Court to Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Giri. The bail is related to a child sexual abuse complaint filed by the Uttar Pradesh Police. A Special Leave Petition was filed before the apex court seeking cancellation of the relief granted to the accused.
The SLP aims to set aside the order of the Allahabad High Court, which provided pre-arrest bail to the Hindu seer and his co-accused. The case was registered at the Jhunsi Police Station in Prayagraj under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The relief granted by the Allahabad High Court on March 25 stated that a case for anticipatory bail is made out without expressing any opinion on its merits.
Granting relief, the Allahabad High Court directed that if arrested, the accused should be released on anticipatory bail upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with two sureties each. This release is subject to conditions, including cooperation with the investigation and non-interference with witnesses. The relief order highlighted several inconsistencies in the prosecution case, such as delays in lodging the complaint and contradictions in the victims’ statements regarding the incidents’ place and timing.
