The Supreme Court upholds anticipatory (pre-arrest) bail granted by the Allahabad High Court to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari in a POCSO case. The case is filed over allegations that the seer sexually exploited a minor disciple in Prayagraj. According to reports, the High Court had granted anticipatory bail in March, while directing both the accused and the complainant, Ashutosh Maharaj, not to speak to the media about the matter. Prior to the High Court’s decision, the court stayed Avimukteshwaranand’s arrest on February 27 and reserved its verdict after asking the applicants to cooperate with the investigation. The Supreme Court decision comes after a plea challenging the anticipatory bail was brought before it. News outlets report that the Supreme Court rejects that challenge and keeps the High Court’s order in effect, providing the accused continued protection from arrest in the case, subject to the conditions imposed by the courts.