Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, on Tuesday, moved the Allahabad High Court for anticipatory bail after the Uttar Pradesh Police registered an FIR against him under the POCSO Act for the alleged sexual harassment of two minors.

Advocate Anjani Kumar Mishra, appearing for the seer, confirmed that the bail application has been filed in the high court.

The FIR names Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his aide Mukundanand Giri.

It was registered on the orders of a special POCSO court in Prayagraj on February 21, following a complaint by Ashutosh Brahmachari and two minors aged 14 and 17.

The minors have alleged sexual abuse by the accused during the recent Magh Mela in Prayagraj.

Speaking to the media, the swami strongly denied the charges and described the case as “completely fake”.

He claimed the Uttar Pradesh Police and district administration are working together to implicate him.

He showed photographs of a senior Prayagraj police officer cutting a cake with complainant Ashutosh Brahmachari and alleged this proves collusion.

The seer also questioned the delay in registering the FIR, saying the POCSO Act requires immediate action and medical examination of the minors.

“I am shocked that despite mandatory provisions, the police did not act when the minors first approached them,” he said.

He further alleged that a family from Shahjahanpur informed him that they were forced and threatened by a person named Ashutosh Maharaj into filing a false complaint against him.

The case comes weeks after the swami’s confrontation with the Prayagraj administration over an alleged assault on his followers on Mauni Amavasya (January 18).

The administration had issued notices questioning his use of the “Shankaracharya” title and blaming him for a stampede-like situation at the mela.

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai met the swami on Tuesday and extended support, alleging “baseless and fabricated cases” are being filed against him.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has also criticised the BJP government, calling it a “conspiracy against the Shankaracharya”.

The Allahabad High Court is expected to take up the anticipatory bail plea in the coming days. Police have begun an investigation into the case.