Prayagraj: Allahabad High Court judge Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal has recused himself from hearing a contempt petition filed against Swami Avimukteshwaranand. The petition alleged that Avimukteshwaranand disobeyed court directions issued while granting him anticipatory bail in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) case registered in Prayagraj.
Background of the Case
The contempt petition was filed by Ashutosh Maharaj, the first informant in the Pocso FIR. It claimed that Avimukteshwaranand violated the high court’s anticipatory bail order dated March 25 by holding meetings and making public statements, despite restrictions imposed by the court.
Recusal and Transfer of Case
When the matter was taken up on May 6, Justice Agarwal stated that he did not wish to hear the case and directed that it be placed before another bench after obtaining nomination from the Chief Justice. Consequently, the matter will now be listed before a different bench as decided by the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.
Bail Conditions Imposed
While granting anticipatory bail, the high court had imposed several conditions. These included directives that the accused, the victims, and the first informant shall not give any interview to the media regarding the case during the pendency of investigation or trial. The court also ordered that the accused shall not tamper with evidence and shall appear before the trial court on dates fixed, unless exempted by the court concerned.
Other bail conditions included a direction that the accused shall not directly or indirectly induce, threaten, or promise any person acquainted with the facts of the case to dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the court or police. The accused was further directed to cooperate during trial, not misuse the liberty of bail, and not leave the country without prior permission of the court concerned.
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