Prayagraj (UP), February 1: A special POCSO court in Prayagraj has directed the Jhunsi Police Station SHO to file an FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati following allegations of sexual abuse involving boys at his ashram.

The court's decision came after examining evidence and recording statements from the victims, referred to as 'batooks' at the Vidya Math ashram. The Special Judge, Vinod Kumar Chaurasia, reserved judgment last week on an application filed by Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj and others, invoking Section 173(4) of the BNS (Brahmachari Niyam Samiti).

The petitioners sought an FIR against Avimukteshwaranand under various sections of the BNS related to sexual assault, as well as under Sections 3, 5, 9, and 17 of the POCSO Act, aimed at protecting children from sexual offences.