Swami Avimukteshwaranand Questions POCSO Investigation, Seeks Severe Punishment if Guilt Proven

Varanasi: Swami Avimukteshwaranand, residing at Shree Vidya Math, Kedarghat, has raised serious questions regarding the investigation into the POCSO Act case filed against him. On Tuesday, he presented a photograph showing Ashutosh Brahmachari, who filed the complaint, standing next to Additional Police Commissioner Ajay Pal Sharma of Prayagraj, who appears to be cutting a cake in the image.

Questions Raised on Investigation Fairness

The Swami pointed out that Ajay Pal Sharma is the same officer overseeing the investigation into the sexual exploitation allegations against him. He described the photograph as indicative of undue closeness and suggested that it raised doubts about the impartiality of the probe.

He said:
“The children allegedly exploited have neither come before me nor have any association with my institution. If the allegations are true, it would be a crime of the rarest category. If proven guilty, the punishment should be unimaginably severe. But if the allegations are false, equally strict action must be taken against those who made the claims.”

Swami Avimukteshwaranand also alleged misuse of government machinery to undermine his Go-Raksha campaign and reiterated that he is willing to cooperate fully with all investigations while respecting the police.

Political Support

The Swami received support from Congress State President Ajay Rai, who visited the Math with party workers. Rai stated that the Congress party stands with those fighting for religion and appealed to the Prime Minister to intervene if Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is acting wrongly. The Congress party has announced statewide protests across 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday in response to the case.