A fresh plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the anticipatory bail granted to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, in a case registered under the POCSO Act.

The Allahabad High Court had earlier granted the religious leader interim protection from arrest. Justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha recorded several inconsistencies in the prosecution case while granting the relief.

The court noted the first informant learned of the alleged offence on January 18, 2026, but reported it six days later, citing engagement in pooja and yagya. It also found contradictions in the alleged victims’ statements on the place and timing of the incidents.

The FIR, Crime No. 58 of 2026, was registered at Jhoonsi police station in Prayagraj under Section 351(3) of the BNS and sections of the POCSO Act. It followed a complaint by Ashutosh Brahmachari, after a Special POCSO Court ordered the case to be registered in February.

The High Court granted interim protection on February 27, directing cooperation with the probe and restraining all sides from media comments. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called the FIR politically motivated.