2 min readLucknowJun 11, 2026 02:52 AM IST
Months after he lodged a case of sexual assault on two minors allegedly by Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his associates during Magh Mela in Prayagraj, the complainant, Ashutosh Brahmachari, has claimed that he was misled and pressured into filing a fake case.
In a video statement, Brahmachari alleged, “The conspiracy to get a false case lodged against Avimukteshwaranand was hatched by Mahant Ramchandra Das (who he claimed lives in Chitrakoot ashram). I was pressured and misled by him. Several officials were also involved in this.”
“I have WhatsApp chats and phone call recordings of Das telling me how to lodge the case,” he added.
On February 21, the Prayagraj police had registered the case on charges of sexual assault on minors hours after the Special Judge (POCSO) Act, Prayagraj, issued an order to file a case.
While Das is the successor of spiritual leader Swami Rambhadracharya, Brahmachari is also a disciple of him.
When contacted by The Indian Express if he would withdraw the FIR against Avimukteshwaranand, Brahmachari said, “We will hold discussion and take a decision on this soon.”
Both Avimukteshwaranand and Das belong to Pratapgarh district, Brahmachari claimed.
Story continues below this ad
Brahmachari went on to allege that Das may even get Swami Rambhadracharya murdered in an attempt to grab his ashram and others assets.
Meanwhile, Rambhadracharya issued a statement, rejecting Brahmachari’s claims and demanded legal action against him. He also claimed threat to his life from Brahmachari.
The FIR against Avimukteshwaranand, Mukundanand Brahmachari of Sheshnath Ashram, Badrinath Dham, Uttarakhand, and two-three unidentified persons was filed under Section 351 (3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 51, 6, 3, 4 (2), 16, 17 of the POCSO Act.
In the FIR, the time of occurrence of offence is between January 13, 2025, and February 15 this year.
Story continues below this ad
However, the accused secured anticipatory bail in the case from the Allahabad High Court on March 25.
They face charges of aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a child under POCSO provisions for which the punishment ranges between 7 years to life imprisonment. Under the BNS section, the accused face charges of aggravated criminal intimidation.
The statements of the two alleged victims were recorded in the court.
Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram
