'Sexually assaulted boys at his gurukul in name of education': After court order, Swami Avimukteshwaranand, his disciple booked under Pocso Act

PRAYAGRAJ: Swami Avimukteshwaranand, his disciple Mukudanand Brahmachari and three unidentified people were booked under Pocso Act on Sunday for the alleged sexual exploitation of two minor boys at his camp over the past year, including during the recent Magh Mela and the 2025 Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.Pocso Judge Vinod Kumar Chaurasia had on Saturday ordered Jhunsi police station to lodge an FIR against Avimukteshwaranand and others on a complaint filed by Shankuri Peethadheshwar Ashutosh Maharaj, a plaintiff in the Krishna Janmabhoomi–Shahi Eidgah title dispute.Ashutosh Maharaj alleged that he organised a ‘maha yajna’ at his camp during Magh Mela, where two minor boys approached him and accused Avimukteshwaranand of sexually exploiting them. He said he had approached Prayagraj police seeking registration of an FIR but received no response, following which he moved the Pocso court.Jhunsi SHO Mahesh Mishra told TOI that the FIR was registered under section 351(3) of BNS (criminal intimidation) and sections 5, 6, 3, 4(2), 16 and 17 of Pocso Act.Ashutosh Maharaj also alleged that Avimukteshwaranand, who proclaims himself to be a Shankaracharya, sexually assaulted the boys at his gurukul in the name of education (shiksha) and service (sewa).