Expelled Seer Vachanananda Swamiji Files for Bail in Davangere POCSO Court

The expelled seer of the Harihar Panchamasali Peetha, Vachanananda Swamiji, appeared in person at the Davangere District POCSO Special Court on Saturday to file an application for regular bail. This development follows the Karnataka High Court's decision to cancel his anticipatory bail in a case involving the alleged sexual abuse of a boy at the mutt's hostel in Harihar.

Swamiji, who faces serious allegations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, arrived at the court accompanied by his senior advocate, SV Patil, and a group of devotees. The police have already submitted a 100-page chargesheet against the seer in connection with the case.

The legal proceedings began when the victim's mother lodged a complaint against the seer. Initially, a zero FIR was registered at the Lakshmeshwar Police Station in Gadag district. The case was later transferred to the Harihar Rural Police Station for further investigation.

Before the case was officially registered, Swamiji had successfully obtained anticipatory bail from the special court. This decision was subsequently challenged by the victim's mother, who filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court seeking its cancellation.

Upon hearing the application, the Karnataka High Court determined that the anticipatory bail granted to Swamiji by the special court was not legally justifiable. While the High Court cancelled the bail, it granted the seer a three-week interim protection window to approach the court for regular bail.

In the meantime, the Harihar Rural Police had filed their own petition in the Davangere District POCSO Special Court. The police requested the cancellation of Swamiji's anticipatory bail, alleging that the complainant's family had received threats from unknown persons.

The special court was set to announce its ruling on the police's petition on June 30. However, because the Karnataka High Court intervened and cancelled the anticipatory bail beforehand, the local police's application was rendered practically futile.