A special POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) court in Prayagraj has directed the police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciple Swami Mukundanand Giri following allegations of sexual exploitation involving minors, officials said on Saturday.
The court’s order came after it took cognisance of a complaint and supporting material presented by complainant Ashutosh Brahmachari, who had accused the seer of sexually exploiting boys at his Vidya Math ashram. Earlier proceedings included the recording of videographed statements of two minor complainants in court as part of the POCSO Act process.
Presiding over the case, the Special POCSO judge Vinod Kumar Chaurasia instructed the Jhunsi Police Station to formally register the FIR and begin an investigation under relevant sections of the law.
The legal move follows weeks of tension after local authorities and the seer clashed during the Magh Mela festival in Prayagraj. While Avimukteshwaranand had been in the spotlight for unrelated disputes earlier this month, the court order has now placed a serious criminal investigation into motion concerning child safety and abuse allegations.
After the order, the complainant welcomed the court’s decision, saying it was a step toward justice and that evidence had been presented clearly. Police are expected to proceed with a formal investigation now that the FIR has been ordered.
At this stage, the FIR registration and probe do not imply guilt; the case will now be examined by law enforcement based on the court’s directive and legal standards under the POCSO Act.
