The Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere with an Allahabad High Court order granting anticipatory bail to spiritual leader Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati. The case, which involves allegations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, will proceed with the anticipatory bail intact.
A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh dismissed the petition brought forward by the complainant, Ashutosh Brahmachari, who sought to overturn the bail.
“Sorry, we are not going to interfere,” the bench stated, bringing a swift end to the challenge against the high court’s decision.
Background of the Case
The legal battle stems from a First Information Report (FIR) registered at the Jhunsi police station in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The FIR was lodged following direct instructions from a local POCSO court, acting on allegations of sexual exploitation involving several batuks (young disciples) against Swami Avimukteshwaranand and his disciple, Mukundanand Brahmachari.
On March 25, the Allahabad High Court granted anticipatory bail to both Swami Avimukteshwaranand and Mukundanand Brahmachari.
High Court Restrictions Remain in Place
While the High Court provided relief to the accused by granting anticipatory bail, it also imposed strict conditions on all parties involved.
The High Court restrained both the applicants (Swami Avimukteshwaranand and his disciple) and the first informant from making any public or media statements regarding the active case. Additionally, the court explicitly directed the accused individuals to cooperate fully with the ongoing police investigation.
With the Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene, those restrictions and the trial court’s investigation will continue under the parameters established by the High Court.
