On Tuesday, 20th August, six culprits of one of the largest sex scandals in the nation, which took place in Ajmer 32 years ago, have been sentenced to life in jail by the district court. They also face a fine of Rs 5 lakh in addition to this. The accused persons who have been awarded life imprisonment are Nafees Chishti, Naseem alias Tarzan, Salim Chishti, Iqbal Bhati, Sohil Gani, and Syed Zameer Hussain.
At the time of sentencing, all six accused persons were in the courtroom. Iqbal Bhati, one of the suspects who was in Delhi, was transported in an ambulance to Ajmer for the case. Earlier today, the POCSO court delivered a historic verdict, declaring all the six accused guilty.
In 1992, the accused gang-raped more than 100 girl students from Ajmer’s renowned Mayo College and blackmailed them using their photographs. Four other accused have already served their sentences. Following the guilty verdict, the police took all the accused into custody. The initial chargesheet, filed on November 30, 1992, listed eight individuals. Later, four additional chargesheets were submitted, bringing the total number of accused to 12.
The primary accused, Farooq Chishti, served as the President of the Ajmer Youth Congress. Nafees Chishti held the position of Vice President of the Ajmer Indian National Congress, while Anwar Chishti was the Joint Secretary of the Ajmer Indian National Congress.
Rajasthan: In Ajmer's largest blackmail case, six accused, including Nafees Chishti and Naseem alias Tarzan, were found guilty by the Special POCSO Act Court. They blackmailed over 100 girls with obscene photos from 1992 pic.twitter.com/pqwkoPo1fk
— IANS (@ians_india) August 20, 2024
The scandal came to light through an article in a local newspaper. It revealed the sexual exploitation of schoolgirls by blackmailing them using nude photographs. The gang responsible for this influenced religious, political, social, and economic fields. This revelation created an uproar across the country. It created an atmosphere of fear among government officials, police, and members of social and religious organizations of the state.
The Ajmer District Police discovered that several affluent young men from the families of Khadims, the caretakers of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti’s dargah, were involved in the scandal. The police also suspected high-ranking politicians and officials. Due to concerns about potential threats to law and order in the city, the police initially hesitated to take action, facing significant pressure.
A subsequent news article titled “How the Blackmailers of Schoolgirls Remained Free” featured explicit photos, which further fueled public outrage. Protests demanding justice started, and Hindu organizations threatened to take matters into their own hands if legal action wasn’t taken against the perpetrators.
Under immense pressure, the Ajmer District Bar Association met with local authorities and suggested jailing the identified suspects under the National Security Act to calm public anger and prevent communal tensions. Eventually, the investigation was handed over to the CID.
This crime sparked a movement across Rajasthan, demanding the arrest and justice for the victims.
On May 30, 1992, the CID officially took over the investigation. The scandal involved influential individuals, including members of the Khadim Chishti families and the Youth Congress, exploiting schoolgirls. Explicit photos leaked from a photo lab drew attention to the crime.
Initially, the Ajmer District Police conducted the investigation. The harassment linked to this case led several people, including the photo lab owner and manager, to commit suicide. Several of the girls involved also ended their lives.
Despite decades of demands for justice by over 100 victims, many of the criminals were acquitted or released on bail. The case went through various courts, including the High Court, Supreme Court, Fast Track Court, and POCSO Court. However, for most victims, who are now in their 50s or 60s, justice remains elusive.
