Convictions and Sentences in Long-Running Ajmer Sexual Exploitation Case
On August 20, a special court in Rajasthan sentenced six individuals to life imprisonment in connection with the notorious 1992 Ajmer sex scandal, which involved the gang rape and exploitation of over 100 school and college girls aged 11 to 20.
The convicted individuals—Nafees Chishti, Naseem alias Tarzan, Salim Chishti, Iqbal Bhati, Sohail Ghani, and Syed Zameer Hussain—were found guilty of befriending girls from a private school and college in Ajmer, photographing them, and blackmailing them into visiting a remote farmhouse where they were sexually assaulted. The gang also coerced the victims into recruiting their friends, who were similarly exploited.
Judge Ranjan Singh, in delivering the verdict, emphasized the severity of the crimes and justified the life sentences for all six convicts. Each was also fined ₹5 lakh. The court ruled that the accused were convicted under Sections 120B and 376 of the Indian Penal Code, with Naseem alias Tarzan also convicted under Section 37 of the IPC.
Additionally, the court instructed the District Legal Services Authority to adjust any compensation previously provided to the victims from government schemes against the amount awarded by the court.
The court acknowledged the prolonged duration of the case, attributing the delay to the extended absence of the accused. The investigation began with Nafees Chishti’s appearance on April 20, 2003, and concluded only after the final accused, Sohail Ghani, appeared on February 17, 2018.
(With inputs from agency)
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