Allahabad HC stays arrest of Swami Avimukteshwaranand in POCSO case

NEW DELHI: The Allahabad high court on Friday gave relief to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati in the sexual harassment case registered at Jhunsi police station by staying his arrest.The court order grants interim protection from coercive action until the next hearing in the matter.A case was registered against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, following a complaint alleging sexual abuse. The seer has denied the allegations, calling the case “false” and an attempt to defame him. He has maintained that neither he nor his gurukul had any connection with the complainants.Earlier, he publicly said he was willing to undergo a narco analysis test if it helped establish the truth. “If the truth can be ascertained through a narco test, it should certainly be done. Whatever methods are available to uncover the truth should be adopted,” he told reporters.He questioned claims related to medical examination reports, arguing that such reports, conducted days later, could not establish his involvement. He also said that even if any wrongdoing had occurred, it would not automatically link him to the alleged acts.The seer further alleged that the children were staying with the complainant, identified as Ashutosh Brahmachari alias Pandey, and questioned why they were not sent to a juvenile home. Referring to media reports that the children were kept at a hotel in Hardoi, he alleged they were not allowed to meet journalists and accused police of shielding the complainant.