In a bold rebuttal amid swirling child sexual harassment claims, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand has knocked on the High Court’s doors for anticipatory bail. The Varanasi-based seer, whose arrest looms over him and disciples, insists on a grand-scale investigation to safeguard the Shankaracharya throne’s reverence.
‘It’s wrong to tarnish such an exalted post with unproven charges,’ he told reporters. Stressing the need for clarity, he advocated for a neutral probe team from non-BJP states, citing eroded public trust in Uttar Pradesh law enforcement.
Viral snapshots with cops drew his ire, with claims they are doctored AI creations aimed at portraying undue influence. ‘Police say the photo was on our account—why forge such evidence? Probe its roots,’ he questioned sharply.
He distanced himself from the Rs 21 lakh reward for injuring Ashutosh Brahmachari, calling it an emotional reaction from saints. ‘Violence has no place in our dharma; it’s sorrow manifesting as rhetoric,’ he clarified.
As inquiries gain momentum, Avimukteshwaranand remains tight-lipped, asserting prior responses suffice. The unfolding drama underscores tensions between religious authority, law enforcement, and the quest for untainted justice in India’s spiritual heartland.