POCSO Case Registered Against Dismissed Seer Vachanananda Swamiji
Davanagere: A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered against Vachanananda Swamiji, the dismissed head of the Panchamasali Gurupitha, for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy who resided at the Gurupitha in Harihar. The ‘zero’ FIR was initially filed at Lakshmeshwar police station in Gadag district and later transferred to the Harihar Rural police station, where the incident occurred. Police have launched an investigation and recorded the statement of the victim’s mother, who filed the complaint.
Allegations of Sexual Assault
The victim’s mother alleged that Vachanananda Swamiji used to get massages from boys residing in the mutt. According to her complaint, the victim studied classes VI, VII, and VIII at a government school in Hanagavadi, Harihar taluk, and lived in the mutt hostel from 2021 to 2024. During this period, the seer allegedly entered the bathroom while the boy was bathing, made him undress, and himself got naked. He then massaged the boy’s entire body, including private parts, and sexually assaulted him by touching his private parts, threatening him not to disclose the incidents.
Investigation and Counseling
Davanagere Superintendent of Police (SP) HT Shekhar stated that the investigation has begun and that the victim’s statement will be recorded. The District Child Welfare Committee visited the mutt on April 17 and recorded statements from several individuals, including the swamiji. The boy victims have been counseled in three phases, and a report is being prepared, which will soon be submitted to the Harihar Rural police station.
Dismissal and Legal Proceedings
Vachanananda Swamiji was dismissed from the Panchamasali Gurupitha by the trust on April 13 for allegedly failing to comply with a directive to leave the Shwasayoga Peetha in Bengaluru. Following his dismissal, allegations emerged that he used to get massages from boys in the mutt. Three boys from the hostel filed a complaint with the District Child Welfare Committee, stating that the swamiji would hit them, use abusive language, and deny them medicine when they were unwell.
On May 2, Vachanananda Swamiji obtained anticipatory bail from the 1st additional district and sessions court after applying under Section 482 of the IPC on April 21. This makes his arrest unlikely. However, prohibitory orders remain in force at the mutt following clashes between the trust and the swamiji’s followers on May 4.
