PRAYAGRAJ, July 11 -- The Allahabad high court has sought instructions (information) from the state government in response to a writ petition alleging that Ashutosh Maharaj exerted pressure on one Ramashankar Dixit to lodge a false case of sexual assault against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati. The petitioner had alleged that when he refused to budge, he was threatened with dire consequences.

In this backdrop, petitioner Dixit, a resident of Shahjahanpur, has sought protection from police and moved the high court seeking passing of an appropriate direction in this connection.

While hearing the writ petition, a division bench comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Indrajeet Shukla also directed to implead Ashutosh Maharaj as a party ...