Key Points
- Legal Action: A Special POCSO Court directed Jhunsi police to file an FIR against the seer, his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari, and others.
- Serious Charges: The case involves stringent sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
- Seer’s Response: Swami Avimukteshwaranand has dismissed the charges as “fabricated,” alleging a conspiracy by internal rivals and the administration to tarnish his reputation.
- Evidence Scrutiny: The court order follows a preliminary police inquiry and recorded statements from two minors, aged 14 and 17, who alleged abuse under the guise of “guru seva.”
- Political Context: The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of mounting tension between the Shankaracharya and the Uttar Pradesh government.
In a significant legal development, Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati is facing severe criminal allegations after a Special POCSO Court in Prayagraj ordered the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against him. The case, lodged at the Jhunsi police station on the night of February 21, 2026, revolves around accusations of sexual exploitation of minor children during the Magh Mela 2025-2026.
The complainant, Ashutosh Brahmachari, who is the head of the Shakumbhari Peeth and a disciple of Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, alleged that two minors were subjected to repeated abuse at the seer’s camp. Following the court’s directive, the police have invoked multiple sections of the POCSO Act and Section 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which addresses aggravated criminal intimidation.
The Shankaracharya’s Defense and Counter-Claims
Responding to the threats of arrest and the filing of the FIR, Swami Avimukteshwaranand issued a defiant statement, asserting his innocence and vowing to cooperate with the law. He characterized the allegations as a deliberate attempt to suppress his voice and damage the institution of the Shankaracharya.
The religious leader made a major claim regarding the identity of the children involved, stating that the boys named in the complaint never studied at or visited his Gurukul. According to his legal team, the students are actually affiliated with a school in Hardoi, a fact they claim is supported by academic marksheets already submitted for review. Furthermore, the seer questioned why the alleged video evidence (CD) mentioned by the complainant had not been made public, suggesting that CCTV footage from the Prayagraj “war room” would eventually prove his innocence.
Background: A Tense Standoff with the State
This legal crisis is the latest chapter in a long-standing confrontation between Swami Avimukteshwaranand and the Uttar Pradesh administration. The friction peaked during the Mauni Amavasya festival on January 18, 2026, when the seer’s convoy was halted by police while heading for a ritual bath at the Sangam. The resulting scuffle and the administration’s subsequent notices, which questioned his right to use the title of “Shankaracharya,” turned the religious event into a high-profile political face-off.
The situation has caused a divide within the religious and political landscape. While figures like Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya have expressed reverence for the seer’s status, others within the government have been more critical. The controversy even led to the resignations of some local bureaucrats, citing moral grounds and perceived insults to either the seer or the state leadership.
Next Steps in the Investigation
With the FIR now officially registered, the Prayagraj police are expected to move forward with forensic examinations and further witness statements. The court has emphasized the need for a fair and independent probe to ensure that the dignity of the victims is protected while the truth behind the serious accusations is established. Swami Avimukteshwaranand has appealed to the public to remain calm and ignore rumors, stating that “time will prove this story false.”
