New Delhi, March 27 Days after the Allahabad High Court granted anticipatory bail to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati in a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, an appeal has been filed in the Supreme Court against the order.
The plea by Ashutosh Brahmachari, the complainant in the case, challenges the March 25 order, arguing that the high court did not adequately consider the seriousness of the allegations against the Swami.
The petition states that Saraswati may influence the witnesses in the case.
The Allahabad High Court had granted anticipatory bail to Saraswati and his disciple, Mukundanand Brahmachari, in the case, emphasizing that the investigation should proceed without external influence.
Earlier, on February 27, the court had stayed the arrest of Saraswati, directing that he would not be taken into custody until the order in the matter related to the alleged sexual harassment of minor children and other offenses was pronounced.
The court had also reserved its order after hearing the matter and directed the applicants to cooperate with the investigation.
The case involves an FIR registered at the Jhunsi police station in Prayagraj, following directions from a POCSO court, alleging that the accused sexually exploited several "batuks" (young disciples).