Karnataka court grants anticipatory bail to Vachanananda Swamiji in POCSO case

A special court in Davanagere recently granted anticipatory bail to Vachanananda Swamiji, Jagadguru of the Veerashaiva Lingayitha Panchamasali Peetha, in a case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).

The accused seer is a prominent figure within the Panchamasali sub-caste of the Lingayat community.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (FTSC-I) Sriram Narayan Hegde granted the pre-arrest bail on May 2 after taking note of social media posts by a mutt trustee that suggested a coordinated effort to falsely implicate Vachanananda Swamiji amid an ongoing administrative feud.

In its order, the court observed,

“On going through media reports prima facie, it reveals that there is a dispute between this petitioner and the devotees on one hand and the trustees of Panchamasali Gurupeetah on the other hand. Further it reveals that one of the trustees has stated that Swamiji has to go out of the Peetha as early as possible. One of the trustees in social media post stated that Swamiji is the lover of Massaj and there is necessity of filing POCSO case. It reveals that there is a prima facie case for grant of anticipatory bail.”

The Court further directed that if Swamiji is arrested in any complaint or first incident report (FIR) linked to the dispute, whether filed by trustees, their associates, followers or even parents of children, he must be released on bail.

This would apply to cases involving offences under various provisions of the POCSO Act and related laws, subject to him furnishing a personal bond of ₹1 lakh along with one surety of the same amount.

The Court also clarified that if any case is registered, Swamiji must cooperate with the investigation, appear before the police or court as required and must not try to influence or tamper with witnesses.

According to the petition, the Peetha was established on February 19, 2008 and registered on April 10, 2008. Following the death of Dr Mahanta Shivacharya Swamiji on February 4, 2012, the first Chara Jagadguru, Sri Siddalinga Swamiji, was allegedly expelled from the Peetha and the trust in 2015.

The trustees thereafter are said to have requested Vachanananda Swamiji (petitioner) to take charge as Jagadguru, which he accepted.

The plea stated that in January 2026, devotees and leaders of the Panchamasali community approached Swamiji with allegations of misappropriation of funds and properties by the trustees and urged him to lead an accountability movement.

Swamiji subsequently took up the cause along with community leaders and devotees, which allegedly led to a rift between him and the trustees.

It was also argued that the trust passed a resolution on April 13, 2026 expelling Swamiji from the Peetha. He, however, termed the move illegal and against the wishes of devotees and community leaders, who later allegedly passed another resolution backing his continuation as Jagadguru.

The petition further alleged that a trustee had publicly threatened, through media interactions, that a POCSO case would be filed against Swamiji by instigating parents of minor students staying at the mutt for educational purposes. It also claimed that some trustees met parents and encouraged them to file false complaints.

Swamiji also claimed that he had been actively involved in the agitation seeking reservation for the Lingayat Panchamasali community and that certain political interests had turned hostile towards him.

He argued that the allegations were part of an attempt to falsely implicate him, damage his reputation and remove him from the Peetha.

Opposing the plea, the prosecution argued that Swamiji was seeking anticipatory bail in connection with serious offences under the POCSO Act, which involve crimes against children.

It submitted that the gravity of the allegations outweighed Swamiji’s personal liberty and that, given his influence as a Jagadguru with a large following, there was a risk of him influencing witnesses and obstructing the investigation if granted bail.

Later, a formal complaint was lodged on May 7 by the mother of an alleged victim at the Lakshmeshwar Police Station in Gadag district. Police initially registered a "Zero FIR" under Sections 8 (sexual assault) and 12 (sexual harassment) of the POCSO Act, alongside Sections 323 (voluntary hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The case was subsequently transferred to the Harihar Rural Police Station on May 8.

It was alleged that on March 20, 2024, Swamiji had sexually abused the complainant’s son and other children.

According to the complaint, between 2021 and 2024, Swamiji had allegedly sexually abused children staying at the mutt by stripping them naked in his bathroom before school, compelling them to massage his private parts, and touching their genitals.

The complaint further alleged that when the children resisted, Swamiji would assault them, threaten them with death if they disclosed the incidents, and deprive them of food.

On May 19, the investigating officer handling the POCSO case was transferred.

Meanwhile, after three more students came forward with allegations of sexual abuse against the Swamiji, the Child Welfare Committee has submitted its report to the authorities.