Allahabad High Court Seeks UP Government Reply on Plea Alleging Bid to Frame Shankaracharya in False Sexual Assault Case

July 13, 2026 : The Allahabad High Court has sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government on a writ petition filed by a Shahjahanpur resident alleging that he was offered money and pressured to falsely implicate Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati in a fabricated sexual assault case. The Court also directed that the matter be listed for further hearing on July 16.

A Division Bench comprising Justice J.J. Munir and Justice Indrajeet Shukla directed the State counsel to obtain instructions within one week. The Bench further ordered that Ashutosh Brahmachari alias Ashutosh Pandey be impleaded as a respondent in the proceedings.

To ensure prompt compliance with its directions, the Court instructed the Registrar (Compliance) to communicate the order within 24 hours to the Inspector General of Police, Bareilly Zone, the Superintendent of Police, Shahjahanpur, and the Station House Officer of Sadar Bazar Police Station through the concerned Chief Judicial Magistrates.

The petition was filed by Ramashankar Dixit, a resident of Shahjahanpur, who alleged that on February 18, 2026, three unidentified persons approached him with an offer of money to falsely accuse Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati in a fabricated criminal case involving allegations of sexual assault. According to the petition, Dixit refused the proposal, after which he was allegedly threatened with serious consequences, including danger to his life.

Dixit further claimed that although security personnel were deployed at his residence after he informed the local police, even the officers assigned for his protection allegedly attempted to influence him to alter his statement. He stated that despite approaching senior police officials with complaints regarding the alleged intimidation and coercion, no effective action was taken, forcing him to move the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution.

Expressing concern over the safety of himself and his family, the petitioner has sought adequate police protection and legal action against those allegedly attempting to coerce him into filing a false criminal complaint against the seer.

The petition comes in the backdrop of an earlier criminal case involving Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati. A Special Court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Prayagraj had earlier directed registration of an FIR against the Shankaracharya and others on an application filed by Ashutosh Maharaj, who claims to be the president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Nirman Trust, Mathura.

According to Dixit, the existence of that criminal case was allegedly used to pressure him into becoming a witness in another fabricated prosecution against the religious leader.

The High Court also noted that Ashutosh Brahmachari has been associated with litigation relating to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute pending before the Allahabad High Court. He has also separately challenged the opening of a police history sheet against him, claiming it was initiated because of the controversy surrounding the criminal proceedings.