Brahmachari says he was pressured to file case against Avimukteshwaranand

Ashutosh Brahmachari has alleged that he filed a harassment case against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati under pressure from Deva Ashram mahant Ramchandra Das. The claim has triggered reactions from Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and renewed calls for a CBI investigation

Mathura (UP): Ashutosh Brahmachari, who filed a case against seer Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati alleging sexual harassment of minor disciples, said that he had filed a “fake suit” under pressure from Ramchandra Das, the mahant of Deva Ashram in Mathura.

In a video message released on social media, Brahmachari claimed that he was “misled and pressured” by Das into filing a complaint against the seer, adding that several officials were also involved in the “conspiracy”.

“He ruined me. I was harassed and pressured. Why did he use me to do this?” Brahmachari said in the video, adding that he would soon present evidence to support his allegations.

“I have WhatsApp chat records where he (Ramchandra Das) is telling me how to file a suit against Swami Avimukteshwaranand,” he claimed.

Brahmachari described Das as a “hypocrite and fraud” and said he had submitted a complaint to the Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police alleging that Das had illegally taken possession of the Deva Ashram by fabricating a will.

“If police don’t take action, I will go to court,” he said.

He also alleged that Das had conspired to kill his guru Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, saying that Das would be responsible if anything happened to him.

Ramchandra Das is the successor and long-time close associate of Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, the Chancellor of Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Divyang University. Brahmachari was also a disciple of Rambhadracharya in the past.

Meanwhile, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya reacted to Brahmachari’s allegations, saying that the statement had caused him deep anguish.

In a video message, he said that he travels across the country and abroad for religious discourses and performs his duties as an acharya. He expressed apprehension that the remarks could be part of a conspiracy to damage his image and that of his successor.

“I was shocked by this statement. I go to several places for religious programmes. I do not know what kind of intentions he (Brahmachari) has, despite having taken initiation from me,” Rambhadracharya said, adding that such statements should be condemned.

He further alleged that Brahmachari had a criminal background.

“There is no question of any threat to my life, but there is a danger to my reputation and that of my successor,” he said.

A demand for a CBI probe into the matter has also been raised.

Pandit Dinesh Falahari, president of Sri Krishna Janmabhumi Sangharsh Nyas Mathura, wrote to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath seeking a CBI probe against Ashutosh Pandey alias Ashutosh Brahmachari and strict action against him.

In his letter, a copy of which was shared with PTI, Falahari alleged that Brahmachari has a history of making false allegations against saints and others for personal gain.

He claimed that Brahmachari has 36 cases registered against him and has cheated several people through false accusations.

Falahari also alleged that Brahmachari was associated with the Samajwadi Party and had earlier held a position in the Samajwadi Brahman Sabha.

There was no immediate response from Ramchandra Das or representatives of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati regarding the allegations made in the video. An aide of Saraswati declined to comment, citing the ongoing case in the high court.

In January this year, Brahmachari had filed a complaint against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari and two to three others, alleging that they sexually harassed minors in the name of “guru seva” at religious congregations, including the 2025 Kumbh Mela and 2026 Magh Mela.

On February 21, a special court in Prayagraj ordered police to lodge an FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other relevant laws and initiate an independent probe.

On March 25, the Allahabad High Court granted anticipatory bail to Swami Avimukteshwaranand, citing discrepancies in medical evidence and other aspects of the allegations.

The high court had also restrained both sides from making any statements to the media in this regard and directed them to cooperate with the investigation.

The Supreme Court on May 29 dismissed an appeal against his bail, providing Avimukteshwaranand protection from immediate arrest.