Justice delayed is justice denied, yet after 32 years, the horrific Ajmer gangrape case and blackmail scandal has finally seen some resolution. Six convicts—Nafees Chishti, Naseem alias Tarzan, Salim Chishti, Iqbal Bhati, Sohil Gani, and Syed Zameer Hussain—were sentenced to life imprisonment by the district court. Each of them has been fined Rs 5 lakh. However, the long road to justice is stained with the tears of victims, the blood of whistleblowers, and the silence of a complicit system that let rapists roam free for decades.
This case, one of the largest grooming and exploitation scandals in India’s history, erupted in 1992 when a local newspaper, Dainik Navjyoti, exposed a sinister web of sexual violence, blackmail, and political protection that shattered the lives of over 1,100 Hindu schoolgirls. The perpetrators—many of whom were khadims (caretakers) of the Ajmer dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti—used their influence and political affiliations to prey upon young girls, trapping them in a cycle of rape, blackmail, and coercion.
A Dark Conspiracy: How It All Began
The horror began when Farooq Chishti, then-president of the Ajmer Youth Congress, targeted a student from Sophia Senior Secondary School. After sexually assaulting her, he took explicit photographs and used them to blackmail her into introducing other girls. One by one, innocent students were lured into the trap, violated, and then forced to entrap more victims. The ring of sexual abuse expanded, leading to the systematic exploitation of hundreds of young girls.
“These men were monsters hiding in plain sight,” said a retired police officer who investigated the case. “They used their political connections to evade arrest and destroy evidence. They were not just rapists; they were systematic predators.”
The survivors were silenced through threats, societal pressure, and fear of stigma. Many families, fearing social ostracisation, were forced into silence, allowing the perpetrators to operate unchecked for years. The influence of the accused extended to law enforcement, ensuring investigations were delayed, evidence disappeared, and the case remained buried for as long as possible.
In April 1992, journalist Santosh Gupta broke the story in Dainik Navjyoti, revealing the harrowing details of how young girls were sexually exploited by an organised gang. The shocking headline, “Daughters of Big Leaders Are Victims of Blackmail,” sent shockwaves through the nation. Explicit photographs of victims, circulated by the perpetrators to silence them, were discovered, revealing the depth of the criminal operation.
Despite the public outcry, authorities were slow to act. Many in the police and administration were reluctant to proceed, fearing communal unrest and political backlash. It was later revealed that Rajasthan Home Minister Digvijay Singh had seen the obscene photographs 90 days before the scandal came to light, yet no action was taken. The delay gave the perpetrators ample time to destroy evidence, coerce victims, and manipulate witnesses.
The delay in justice allowed the accused to erase crucial evidence and intimidate witnesses. Several victims were either threatened into silence or forced to relocate. Some were driven to suicide, unable to bear the shame and trauma. “We lost count of how many girls were forced to take their own lives,” said a social activist from Ajmer. “This wasn’t just a crime; it was a massacre of innocence.”
The police’s attitude only made matters worse. Inspector General Omendra Bhardwaj, in a press conference, infamously claimed that the scandal was “not as big as publicised” and even questioned the character of some of the victims. His remarks sparked further outrage and protests across Rajasthan.
Out of the 18 accused, 12 were named in multiple chargesheets. In 1998, four were sentenced to life imprisonment, but in 2001, the Rajasthan High Court shockingly acquitted them. By 2003, the remaining four had their sentences reduced to just 10 years. The recent conviction of six more criminals finally marks some form of closure, though the scars of injustice remain. A significant absconding accused, Alamas Maharaj, is still at large and is believed to be hiding in the United States. Activists and victims’ families are now demanding his extradition. “We appeal to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and the NIA to bring Maharaj to justice,” said one of the victim’s relatives.
Beawar—A sinister repeat of the Ajmer scandal
In Rajasthan’s Beawar, a redux of the 1992 Ajmer grooming scandal has sparked outrage. Islamist grooming gangs have once again preyed upon minor Hindu girls, systematically blackmailing, raping, and coercing them into conversion to Islam. The police cracked down on the network in February 2025, exposing a web of religious indoctrination and sexual exploitation.
On February 17, 2025, Beawar police arrested a gang of barely educated Muslim youths—Rehan Mohammad, Sohail Mansuri, Lukman, Arman Pathan, Sahil Qureshi, and two minors—who had been trapping Hindu schoolgirls, raping them, and forcing them into conversion. The accused pressured victims to observe Roza, recite the Kalma, and wear burqas. The gang leader even boasted that Brahmin girls could be “sold” for Rs 20 lakh and Dalit girls for Rs 10 lakh.
A victim’s family exposed the operation after discovering a hidden mobile phone, leading to multiple arrests. Among those detained was former councillor Hakim Qureshi, highlighting the involvement of Islamist networks. To date, 10 accused have been arrested, with protests erupting across Rajasthan. On March 1, a complete shutdown was observed in Ajmer, with Hindu organisations demanding a CBI inquiry and the death penalty for the perpetrators.
Ajmer’s Deputy Mayor Neeraj Jain stated, “This is not just a case of blackmail or rape. Hindu minor girls were systematically manipulated into converting to Islam. It is a clear case of Love Jihad. Justice must be swift—unlike the Ajmer case, where culprits were punished after 33 years.”
Encroachment notices have been issued to the families of the accused, with demolitions already underway. The ruling BJP has accused the Congress of being complicit in both the Ajmer and Beawar scandals. BJP leader Satish Poonia remarked, “From the Ajmer blackmail scandal to the Beawar case, the Congress has always been in the background, shielding the perpetrators.”
While the six life sentences offer some sense of justice, activists insist that more must be done. “Every single perpetrator must be tracked down. The political machinery that enabled them must be exposed. And the system that failed these girls must be reformed,” said lawyer and activist Vandana Sharma.
