Introduction: A Scandal That Shook Ajmer and India
Between 1990 and 1992, the historic city of Ajmer in Rajasthan was gripped by a chilling and deeply disturbing episode of sexual abuse, coercion, and exploitation. The case marks the largest documented gangrape scandal in India’s modern history. Over 100 school and college girls, many of them minors, were systematically lured, raped, and blackmailed by a nexus of influential men linked to the powerful Khwaja Garib Nawaz shrine committee, whose influence ran deep in Ajmer’s political and social circles.
The scandal, which came to light only after months of hushed rumours and suppressed stories, revealed a dark underbelly of political power, patriarchy, and societal silence. It exposed how innocence was robbed and how survivors were silenced with threats, blackmail, and public shame.
For decades, the Ajmer rape case remained emblematic of the challenges justice systems face in tackling gendered violence amidst political interference and societal taboos. It was not until August 2024, more than thirty years later, that convictions were finally secured, rekindling debates on accountability, survivor protection, and institutional reforms.
The Beginning: How the Horror Unfolded
The Shadow of the Shrine Committee
Ajmer, renowned for its sacred Dargah Sharif of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, was under the influential grip of local shrine authorities tied to the Khwaja Garib Nawaz shrine committee. This committee wielded considerable political power, with members embedded in local governance and electoral politics.
Within this power structure, a sinister racket thrived behind the scenes. Between 1990 and 1992, a group of men associated directly or indirectly with the shrine committee systematically preyed on vulnerable young girls, who were school and college students, promising love, jobs, or marriage to lure them into meetings. Instead, these victims were sexually assaulted and gang-raped. Many of these rapes were photographed and filmed, with the images used as tools of intimidation and blackmail, ensuring that victims remained silent and compliant.
The Victims’ Plight
The victims were often minors aged between 11 and 18, and hailed from economically weaker sections of society. The perpetrators exploited their ambition for education and employment, leaving a trail of trauma that extended beyond physical abuse to psychological torture and lifelong social stigma.
The survivors were not only violated but also trapped in a cycle of fear and shame, made worse by threats of violence against them or their families. Despite the extraordinary scale of abuse, many victims were pushed into silence due to fear of retribution and ostracization from their communities.
The Scandal Breaks: Initial Exposure and Police Response
Media Revelation and Public Outcry
The scandal first saw the light of day in 1992 when some of the photographs leaked to local newspapers. Although the initial press reports were circumspect, they ignited public outrage and forced the authorities to take notice. The media exposure played a crucial role in breaking the long-standing silence and spurring the first wave of investigations.
Journalists at Dainik Navajyoti and a few other courageous local newspapers risked backlash and intimidation to publish the harrowing details, spotlighting the victims’ stories and naming those allegedly involved. Their courageous reporting acted as a catalyst, galvanizing civil society and survivors to seek justice.
Police Actions and FIRs
In response to the scandal’s eruption, several FIRs were registered at the Ajmer police station. The complaints accused prominent shrine committee members and other politically connected individuals of orchestrating the sexual exploitation racket.
Initial police investigations collected hundreds of photographs and testimonies from survivors and witnesses. However, despite this evidence, progress was sluggish. The politically connected accused leveraged their influence to delay proceedings, intimidate witnesses, and obstruct prosecution efforts.
A Broken System: Social and Institutional Barriers to Justice
Witnesses Silenced by Fear and Intimidation
One of the most significant hurdles to justice in the Ajmer case was the persistent withdrawal or hostile testimonies of witnesses. Many victims and their families faced direct threats, social ostracism, and economic pressures that forced them to recant statements or miss court dates. The cultural stigma surrounding sexual violence often compounded these threats, making survivors reluctant to face public scrutiny.
Witness protection mechanisms were weak or non-existent at the time, leaving survivors vulnerable and isolated. This environment allowed many accused to exploit legal technicalities and procedural delays, resulting in numerous acquittals and adjournments.
Political Interference and Judicial Delays
The intersection of politics and justice was starkly visible. Members of the shrine committee and local politicians allegedly used their extensive networks to influence police, prosecutors, and even judges. As a result, investigations were often superficial, chargesheets delayed, and court proceedings dragged over years without resolution.
The Rajasthan Police faced accusations of slow-walking the cases and shielding suspects, undermining public confidence in the criminal justice system. For decades, survivors fought not only their trauma but also an indifferent and complicit system.
Trial and Tribulations: The Legal Journey Through Decades
Early Trials and Fragmented Convictions
From the mid-1990s into the early 2000s, various trials commenced, focusing on fragments of the sprawling scandal. Some accused were convicted, but many more were acquitted due to lack of cooperation from witnesses or procedural lapses.
The protracted delays and inconsistent testimonies weakened the prosecution’s case in multiple instances. The judicial process revealed the painful reality that justice for survivors of mass sexual crimes is frequently compromised by societal pressures and systemic vulnerabilities.
Role of the POCSO Act and Renewed Push for Justice
In 2012, India enacted the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, creating stronger safeguards and stricter punishments for crimes against minors. Over time, this legislation provided a renewed framework to revisit decades-old cases with fresh legal tools.
In Ajmer, advocates used the POCSO Act to file new petitions and revive stalled cases, pushing courts to re-examine evidence and testimonies. The Act’s provisions for child-sensitive procedures and witness protection were critical in overcoming barriers that had hitherto stymied justice.
Some Important Decisions in the Matter
The 2001 Rajasthan High Court judgment in Harish Tolani and Ors. vs The State of Rajasthan marked an important phase in the Ajmer rape scandal proceedings by acquitting several accused (including Parvez Ansari, Kailash Soni, Mahesh Ludhani, and Harish Tolani) of charges relating to criminal conspiracy and sexual offences under sections 120B, 376/120B, and others. However, the convictions of Moijullah, Ishrat Ali, Anwar Chisty, and Shamshuddin for substantive offences under sections 376 and 376/120B IPC were upheld. This judgment delineated between accused based on evidence credibility and witness testimony, while underscoring the court’s careful scrutiny of large-scale, politically sensitive sexual offence cases.
Subsequently, the 2004 Supreme Court judgment in Moijullah @Puttan vs State of Rajasthan further solidified judicial accountability by affirming the conviction of four accused (including Moijullah, Ishrat Ali, Anwar Chisty, and Shamshuddin ) for gangrape offences under sections 376 and 376/120B IPC. While upholding the substantive guilt of the offenders, the Court exercised judicial discretion by reducing their sentences from life imprisonment to ten years’ rigorous imprisonment, reflecting a balancing of punishment proportionality with procedural complexities. This apex court decision set a precedent for sentence reduction in the Ajmer case context, which influenced later sentencing parameters for co-accused.
Additionally, the 2013 Rajasthan High Court judgment in the appeal of Farookh Chisty reaffirmed his conviction for gangrape and criminal conspiracy under sections 376 and 376/120B IPC, based mainly on key prosecution witness testimonies despite many turning hostile. While reducing his life sentence to the period already served, following the aforementioned precedents where co-accused received similar sentence reductions, the court upheld the substantive finding of guilt. This ruling played a crucial role in reinforcing accountability for the Ajmer rape scandal, demonstrating judicial perseverance amid challenges like witness intimidation and lengthy delays, and sending a strong message that grave sexual offences against minors demand justice irrespective of procedural difficulties.
Cultural and Media Controversy: The “Ajmer 92” Film
The Ajmer rape case has also sparked significant controversy in the media sphere with the proposed release of the film “Ajmer 92”, which sought to depict the scandal’s events. In 2023, the Anjuman Moinia Fakhria Chishtiya Khuddam Khwaja Saheb, representing custodians of the revered Ajmer Dargah Sharif—filed a writ petition in the Rajasthan High Court seeking to ban the film’s release on the grounds that it contained defamatory content that could tarnish the image of the Dargah, its sacred symbols, and the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. The petitioners requested the constitution of a committee, headed by a retired judge, to review the film and ensure no negative portrayal of the shrine or its associated religious practices.
The court, however, dismissed the petition, noting that the petitioners had an alternative remedy before the Central Government under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, to address their grievances. This dismissal allowed the film’s release to proceed without judicial interference.
The Verdict at Last: August 2024 Jaipur POCSO Court Judgment
Conviction and Sentencing
On 20 August 2024, a landmark judgment was delivered by the Jaipur POCSO Court, convicting six accused men linked to the 1992 scandal and sentencing them to life imprisonment. This verdict marked a historic milestone, achieving convictions three decades after the crimes were committed.
The court’s judgment included a strong condemnation of the systemic failures that delayed justice and acknowledged the courage of surviving victims who reasserted their testimonies under the POCSO framework. It emphasized the gravity of the offenses and rejected attempts to dilute accountability through procedural defences.
Judicial Recognition of Survivor Trauma and Intimidation
The court expressly recognized the immense social, psychological, and economic difficulties faced by survivors throughout the decades-long process. It underscored the critical need for witness protection programs and survivor-centred judicial practices, which were absent during the initial investigations.
The verdict also highlighted broader systemic issues tied to patriarchy, political interference, and institutional apathy, calling for reforms to prevent such miscarriages of justice in future sexual violence cases.
Social and Political Aftermath: A Society Forced to Confront Its Shadows
Public Reaction: Relief, Rage, and Reflection
The 2024 verdict reignited public discourse on the Ajmer scandal, eliciting mixed reactions. Many survivors and civil society activists expressed relief and vindication but lamented the decades lost without justice. The case rekindled rage toward political impunity and the culture of victim-blaming that had long shielded offenders.
At the same time, demands surged for comprehensive investigations into all facets of the scandal, including accountability of other accused who remain free and institutional reforms in law enforcement and judiciary.
Media and Civil Society’s Role in Sustaining the Struggle
The perseverance of journalists, particularly from local media outlets decades ago, was widely acknowledged as critical in preserving public memory of the scandal. Their reporting broke the wall of silence and shame and kept pressure on authorities.
Civil society organizations renewed calls for survivor rehabilitation, legal aid, psycho-social support, and educational programs targeting gender equality. The case has become a touchstone for wider movements against sexual violence across India.
Legal and Policy Implications: Lessons From a Protracted Battle for Justice
Strengthening Survivor Protections
The Ajmer case underscores the urgent need for effective survivor protection frameworks to address witness intimidation and societal stigma. This includes legal provisions for anonymity, fast-track courts, victim counselling, and protection against reprisals.
Political Accountability and Independent Investigations
The scandal highlights the corrosive effect of political influence on criminal investigations and prosecutions in sexual violence cases. It stresses the need for autonomous investigatory bodies and judicial oversight free from political interference.
Importance of Legal Reforms and Enforcement
The introduction and application of the POCSO Act was a key turning point in ensuring justice for minors. Further reforms are needed to streamline trial procedures, enhance forensic capabilities, and train law enforcement and judiciary in gender-sensitive approaches.
Cultural Change and Public Education
Ultimately, legal remedies must be accompanied by sustained cultural change. Public education campaigns addressing gender discrimination, dismantling victim-blaming attitudes, and promoting women’s empowerment are essential to prevent recurrence of such tragedies.
Recent Developments: Rajasthan High Court Suspends Sentences of Senior Convicts
Bail Granted Amid Protracted Legal Battle
In a significant development, on 8 August 2025, the Rajasthan High Court granted suspension of sentences and bail to senior convicts Salim Chisty and Nafis, among others, during the pendency of their appeals against life imprisonment awarded for their roles in the 1992 Ajmer rape and blackmail scandal. Both petitioners, aged around 65 and 64 respectively, had been in judicial custody for over eight and nine years. The court’s decisions acknowledge the prolonged duration of incarceration, the advanced age of the inmates, and prior reductions of similar sentences for co-accused by the Supreme Court from life imprisonment to ten years.
Grounds for Suspension and Court’s Reasoning
The petitions argued that the applicants were falsely implicated in the case, with assertions that their names either did not appear in the original FIR or lacked substantive allegations by key victims. Notably, the court took cognizance of procedural gaps such as the denial of cross-examination opportunities to some complainants and the extended delay in conducting the appellate hearing.
Rejecting the government’s opposition, which cited the applicants’ role in delaying the trial by over three decades, the High Court deemed it just and proper to suspend sentence execution, balancing the principles of justice with humanitarian considerations linked to age and lengthy pre-appeal detention. The convicts were ordered to comply with judicial mandates, including appearances at specified court dates and adherence to bail conditions.
Conclusion: Justice Delayed, and The Continuing Struggle for Closure
The 1992 Ajmer rape and blackmailing scandal stands as a stark reminder of the devastating intersection of sexual violence, political power, and social silence. Over three decades of legal battles, marked by witness intimidation, procedural delays, and political interference, have tested the resilience of survivors and the integrity of the justice system. Landmark convictions and appellate rulings have affirmed accountability for many perpetrators, while judicial perseverance has underscored that even the gravest crimes against minors cannot remain unpunished indefinitely.
However, recent developments, such as the Rajasthan High Court’s suspension of sentences for senior convicts pending appeal, highlight the persistent complexities in balancing the rights of the accused with victims’ demands for timely justice and societal closure. These interim reliefs spotlight a justice system still wrestling with the challenge of delivering final resolutions in cases where decades of trauma demand swift and sensitive handling.
The Ajmer case thus continues to serve as both a cautionary tale and a call to action, it emphasizes the urgent need for robust survivor protections, institutional reforms to prevent undue delays, and a collective societal commitment to uproot the culture of impunity that enables such atrocities. While justice may be delayed, the evolving jurisprudence and unwavering public attention offer hope that it will not be denied. The road ahead requires sustained will to protect the vulnerable, hold the powerful accountable, and transform societal attitudes toward gender violence once and for all.
*This report has been prepared by Kavya Dwivedi, Law Student, RMLNLU.