New Delhi: Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on Tuesday filed an anticipatory bail application in the Allahabad High Court in connection with sexual harassment allegations against him and his disciple Mukundanand Giri. The witness also said he would discuss the matter with police. “We have not received any notification yet. When they (police) come, we will talk to them. The police have not contacted us and they have not been informed and no notification has been received,” he told reporters in Varanasi.Prior to this, an FIR was registered at Jhunsi police station in Prayagraj on a court order of the POCSO Special Court which ordered registration of the case on an application filed by Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj and others.The FIR alleged that the prophet, his disciples and two or three unidentified persons sexually assaulted a minor and another youth multiple times over the past one year, including at gurukuls and during religious gatherings such as the recently concluded Magh Mela in Prayagraj. According to news agency PTI, the case has been registered under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) and the Indian Act (BNS). Swami Avimukteshwaranand, while talking to reporters at Vidya Math, claimed that the case was fabricated. “We have no prior information, and we’ve told you guys this before. The point now is, this is a fake case. What are they going to say? They’re only going to say what they’ve been told. What else are they going to say? That’s why they probably can’t talk, because this case is a complete fabrication. Now, we have a photo that the public sent us, and a lot of people from different places sent in saying, ‘Look at this, look at this.'”‘What kind of justice can such a person expect? So this is a question that we put before you and we also showed the photos. It would be great if the public could find out what’s going on through you. Because when the public forms an opinion, the information you provide becomes its basis. ” he said.The prophet also questioned the accusations, saying: “The most important question is, what connection do we have with these children? Children who never come to our attention, who are never registered in our institutions, you can do thousands of medical tests on them. It is up to you to prove their connection with us… We mentioned that our lawyers are working on filing an FIR… In a case like POCSO, the police should take immediate action. They should believe what their children say and go to the hospital for examination immediately after believing it. Action should be taken immediately. So the question is, why didn’t the police register it? “Swami Avimukteshwaranand is expected to be released on bail, seeking protection from arrest while the investigation into the FIR continues. Sources said a notice was sent to the government lawyer’s office before filing the application in court, PTI reported. The controversy surrounding the prophet also dates back to January 18 during Mauni Amavasya, when Magh Mela officials reportedly prevented him from performing a ritual bath in the Sangam, triggering an 11-day sit-in protest. Talking about the incident, he said, “I sat there for 11 days without any official asking me to take a bath. It is too late now. I will go to the Magh Mela next year and take a bath respectfully.”
