The Allahabad High Court on Friday granted interim protection from arrest to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, a popular religious figure in Uttar Pradesh, in a case registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha also granted protection to his disciple Swami Mukundanand Giri. However, the Court clarified that the investigation shall continue.

"Till the disposal of this application, it is provided that the applicants shall not be arrested in Crime No. 58 of 2026, under Sections 351(3) B.N.S. and Sections 5(1), 6, 3, 4(2), 16 and 17 POCSO Act, Police Station Jhoonsi, District Prayagraj and they are directed to cooperate in the investigation and investigation shall continue," the Court ordered.

A Special POCSO Court had recently ordered the police to register a case against the religious figure to probe allegations of sexual abuse against him. It was alleged that Swami Avimukteshwaranand had sexually abused two minor boys at a camp.

According to media reports, the order was passed on the complaint made by Shankuri Peethadheshwar Ashutosh Maharaj, a plaintiff in the Krishna Janmabhoomi–Shahi Eidgah title dispute.

Following the registration of the first information report (FIR) by Prayagraj police, the accused moved the High Court for anticipatory bail.

Today, the Court reserved its final order on the plea and asked the parties to file written submissions along with case laws by March 12.

Senior Advocates Dilip Kumar with Advocates Rajshri Gupta and Sudhanshu Kumar represented Avimukteshwaranand.

Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal, Government Advocate Patanjali Mishra and Additional Government Advocate Roopak Chaubey appeared for the State.

Advocate Reena N Singh represented the complainant.

[Read Order]