The controversy began with an FIR filed under the POCSO Act by the Allahabad police, which Mukundananda Bharati vehemently contested, labeling it completely fabricated. He accused the complainant, named Ashutosh Brahmachari, of being a history-sheeter at the Kandhala police station and of orchestrating a scheme to implicate Swami Avimukteshwaranand due to personal animosity and political ulterior motives. Mukundananda insisted that the alleged victim had no connection to any of their educational institutions and had never met them, arguing that the case was primarily aimed at obstructing the Shankaracharya's cow protection campaign.