Ajmer scandal: Six convicts in 1992 sexual exploitation case get life sentences

Ajmer, August 20, 2024: After three decades, justice has been done in the infamous Ajmer sexual exploitation case in which over 100 girls were victimized. A special court in Ajmer has sentenced six convicts, including Farooq Chishti, former president of the Youth Congress, to life imprisonment. These individuals lured girls to parties under false pretenses and subjected them to gruesome abuse. The court also imposed a fine of ₹30 lakh on each convict. The Ajmer scandal, which shocked the nation in 1992, resurfaced in the court, leading to this landmark verdict under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The case first came to light when nude photographs of college-going girls began circulating in Ajmer in 1992, exposing the gruesome crimes committed by Chishti and his accomplices. The perpetrators would drug and sexually abuse the girls, and blackmail them with compromising photographs to force them to produce more victims. The scandal involved 18 accused, nine of whom have now been convicted. The convicted persons are Farooq Chishti, Salim Chishti, Sohail Gani, Jameel Chishti, Iqbal Bhati and Tarzan, with others linked to the crime also arrested.

What was the case?

The Ajmer scandal involved Farooq Chishti, the then president of the Youth Congress, who along with his accomplices invited young girls to parties at farms and restaurants. The girls were drugged and raped, and their nude photographs were used to blackmail them. Despite the gravity of the crime, the police were initially reluctant to take action, and those who spoke out were threatened. However, 18 brave victims came forward to testify in court, leading to the conviction of the six individuals.

The ruling is seen as a major victory for the victims and a stark reminder of the importance of justice, no matter how long it takes.