Twist in POCSO Case Against Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand: Complainant Claims Allegations Were Fabricated Under Pressure

In a dramatic turn in the high-profile POCSO case involving Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the original complainant, Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj, has now claimed that the allegations he levelled against the seer were false and made under pressure from others.

Several months after accusing Saraswati of sexually harassing two minors in Prayagraj, Maharaj released a video statement alleging that he had been manipulated into filing what he described as a “fake case”.

According to him, a larger conspiracy was orchestrated to implicate the religious leader.

In the video, Maharaj alleged that the plan to lodge a false complaint against Swami Avimukteshwaranand was devised by Mahant Ramchandra Das.

He claimed that he was subjected to pressure and was deliberately misled into pursuing the allegations. Maharaj further asserted that several individuals, including officials, were involved in the purported conspiracy.

Backing his claims, Maharaj said he possesses WhatsApp conversations and recorded phone calls that allegedly show Ramchandra Das instructing him on how the complaint should be filed.

He maintained that these communications would support his version of events.

Responding to the allegations, Ramchandra Das, the head of Deva Ashram in Mathura, categorically rejected all accusations made against him.

In a statement, Das denied any involvement in a conspiracy and demanded that legal action be initiated against Maharaj. He also expressed concern for his safety, alleging that Maharaj could potentially cause him harm.

The controversy has attracted additional attention because of the religious connections between the individuals involved.

Ramchandra Das is the designated successor of renowned Hindu spiritual leader Swami Rambhadracharya, while Maharaj is also a disciple of Rambhadracharya.

When asked whether he intended to withdraw the complaint filed against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, Maharaj told the media that a decision had not yet been taken.

He said the matter would be discussed and a course of action would be decided in the near future.

Maharaj also refrained from elaborating extensively on his allegations against Ramchandra Das. However, he indicated that he would present further details and clarify his position at a later stage.

The case dates back to February 21, when a special court in Prayagraj directed the police to register a First Information Report (FIR) under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other applicable legal provisions.

The court also ordered an independent investigation into the allegations.

Subsequently, on March 25, the Allahabad High Court granted anticipatory bail to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and one of his disciples in connection with the case.

Saraswati, who serves as the Jyotirmath Shankaracharya, along with others, was booked under Section 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and several provisions of the POCSO Act, including Sections 5, 6, 3, 4(2), 16 and 17.

The charges include allegations of aggravated penetrative sexual assault against a child, offences that carry stringent punishment ranging from seven years’ imprisonment to life imprisonment.

The BNS provision relates to allegations of aggravated criminal intimidation.

Apart from Saraswati, the court-directed FIR also named Mukundanand Brahmachari of Sheshnath Ashram in Badrinath Dham, Uttarakhand, along with two to three unidentified individuals.

Earlier in the controversy, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati had publicly questioned Maharaj’s credibility, alleging that he had a criminal background and describing him as a history-sheeter.

Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj, who joined the spiritual fold of Swami Rambhadracharya as a disciple in 2022, was previously known as Ashutosh Pandey before adopting his religious identity.

With the complainant now asserting that the allegations were fabricated and made under coercion, the case has entered a new and complex phase.

The latest claims are likely to have significant implications for the ongoing legal proceedings and the broader controversy surrounding one of the country’s most prominent religious figures.