Prayagraj: A man who filed a complaint against religious leader Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was attacked by an unidentified person with a razor on a train in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Sunday, police said.
The complainant, Ashutosh Brahmachari, alleged that the attack took place while he was travelling to Prayagraj on the Rewa Express. According to a Government Railway Police officer quoted by PTI, the incident occurred when the train was approaching Sirathu station. Brahmachari had gone to the toilet when an unidentified person allegedly attacked him with a razor.
He sustained minor injuries and was later taken to a hospital in Prayagraj for a medical examination. Police said they are examining closed-circuit television camera footage to identify the attacker.
Brahmachari had earlier approached a special POCSO court, alleging that the police failed to act on his written complaints accusing Saraswati of sexually abusing two minor boys at a camp in Prayagraj over the past year. Following the court’s order, a first information report was registered on February 21 against Saraswati, the head of the Jyotirmath monastery, and his disciple Mukundanand.
Saraswati, however, questioned the claim that Brahmachari had been attacked, suggesting that the incident might be fabricated. He urged railway authorities to conduct an inquiry to establish the truth.
On February 28, the Allahabad High Court granted interim protection from arrest to Saraswati in the POCSO case. The religious leader has maintained that the allegations against him are false and politically motivated.
The case has emerged amid recent tensions between Saraswati and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh. In January, Saraswati staged an 11-day sit-in protest in Prayagraj after the local administration allegedly prevented him from taking a dip at the Triveni Sangam on the holy day of Mauni Amavasya on January 18.
He had also issued a 40-day ultimatum to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, demanding that the cow be declared “rajya mata” and that steps be taken to prevent the export of cow meat.
Saraswati was also among the Shankaracharyas who said they would not attend the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in January 2024.