UP: Seer Avimukteshwaranand fears arrest, files anticipatory bail plea in POCSO case

February 24, 2026

Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday in the child sexual abuse case. He fears that the Prayagraj police may arrest him.

After the FIR was registered on February 21st, the Prayagraj police intensified the investigation. Yesterday, on Monday, a police team arrived in Varanasi. The team gathered information about Shankaracharya and his close associates from the local police.

According to sources, the Prayagraj police may visit Shankaracharya’s ashram today to question him and may even arrest him. Anticipating this, Shankaracharya has approached the High Court through his lawyer.

Police arrived at his residence 

The Uttar Pradesh police on Monday arrived at the residence of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati to arrest him in an alleged sexual assault case.

Speaking to the media, Swami said that he will not oppose the police in any way and will cooperate with them.

The Shankaracharya said that he expresses belief in three courts, which are the public, his heart and god, asserting that he has been given clean chits from each of them.

FIR lodged at Jhunsi station 

This comes after last week, when an FIR was lodged at Jhunsi police station against Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari, and others following directions from a Special Court under the POCSO Act.

The case was registered late Saturday night, around 11:30 PM, after police had received the court’s order. Officials confirmed that action was taken in compliance with the judicial directive.

The FIR has been filed under Section 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Sections 3, 4(2), 6, 16, 17 and 51 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

The allegations relate to incidents said to have occurred between January 13, 2025 and February 15, 2026. The complaint contains serious charges concerning sexual offences involving minors.