Swami Avimukteshwaranand POCSO Case Informant Ashutosh Maharaj Moves Allahabad HC To Quash 2013 UP Police History-Sheet

Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj, the first informant in the POCSO FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand, has approached the Allahabad High Court to challenge the UP Police's history sheet, opened in 2013.

Appearing in person before the Court, Ashutosh Maharaj, who claims to be the President of Sri Krishna Janmbhumi Mukti Nirman Trust (Registered), Mathura, also sought deletion of his name from the Police surveillance register.

It is his case that a history-sheet was opened against him at the Kandhla police station in Shamli. However, regarding his criminal history, the petitioner submitted that in many cases he has been acquitted after trial; in some cases, proceedings have been stayed; and in others, the cases are of a civil nature, relating to religious property.

Hearing his plea on April 28, a bench of Justice JJ Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena issued a notice and granted two weeks' time to the UP Govt to file a counter-affidavit. The matter is now listed for admission on May 13.

The Court clarified that the prayer for interim relief shall be considered on the next date fixed.

For context, Ashutosh Maharaj is also one of the plaintiffs in the Shahi Idgah-Krishna Janmabhumi dispute cases pending before the Allahabad High Court.

Furthermore, it was on his application that a Special POCSO Case in Prayagraj had directed the police to register a case of sexual assault under the stringent POCSO Act against 56-year-old Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and others.

Following the Court order, the accused were booked under Sections 3, 5l, 4(2), 6, 16, 17, and 51 of the POCSO Act.

Ashutosh Maharaj had approached the Special Judge after local police authorities allegedly failed to act on initial written complaints sent to the Station House Officer and the Commissioner of Police.

His application alleged that two minors (Victim 'A', aged about 14 years, and Victim 'B', aged about 17 years and 6 months) were subjected to sexual abuse by the accused persons during the period of Magh Mela, 2025-26, at Prayagraj.

Ashutosh Maharaj claimed that the alleged incident was disclosed to him by the victims.

The Allahabad High Court had previously, on March 25, granted anticipatory bail to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciple in the case, while questioning the 'unusual' conduct of the minor victims in confiding about the alleged offence in Ashutosh Maharaj, rather than in their natural guardians.