PRAYAGRAJ: Ashutosh Maharaj, who had filed an FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciple for allegedly sexually exploiting two minor boys at his ashram, has claimed he was attacked by an unidentified person on the Rewa Express early Sunday.A GRP officer said that Ashutosh claimed he was travelling in an AC first-class coach from Ghaziabad to Prayagraj in connection with the hearing of the case at the Allahabad high court. When the train was approaching Sirathu station, Ashutosh went to the toilet, where an unidentified person allegedly attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon.Ashutosh suffers injuries on nose and left handAshutosh said he managed to save his life after locking himself in the toilet.
Poll
Should there be better security measures on trains for high-profile individuals?
Ashutosh — a plaintiff in the Krishna Janmabhoomi–Shahi Eidgah title dispute — sustained injuries to his nose and left upper arm region and was taken to Colvin Hospital in Prayagraj for treatment.SP (GRP) Prasant Verma told TOI, “Senior cops are probing the incident and action will be initiated accordingly.”The CCTV footage from the spot is also being examined to identify the attacker. Further legal action will be taken based on the investigation, he added.Reacting to the incident, Avimukteshwaranand questioned the claim, calling the story “fabricated”. “We learned about it through the media. We believe in arguments (tark) and evidence (praman)… We are not weak enough to do something like this.”The seer said the attendant of the railway coach stated that Ashutosh was fine when he went to the bathroom, but was found injured after returning.Ashutosh came into the spotlight in Feb after Avimukteshwaranand, his disciple Mukudanand Brahmachari, and three unidentified people were booked under the Pocso Act for the alleged sexual exploitation of two minor boys at his camp at the recent Magh Mela and the 2025 Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.Later, a Pocso court ordered Jhunsi police to lodge an FIR against Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and others on a complaint filed by Ashutosh.However, the Allahabad HC granted major relief to Avimukteshwaranand by staying his arrest. The court order provided interim protection from coercive action until further hearing in the matter.
