Kathmandu: A case has been filed against Rajesh Ahiraj, also known as Rajesh Jha, the former Chief of Madhesh Province, who was arrested on charges of rape.

Jha, who was arrested on Shrawan 4 (July 19), was charged within nine days. Based on the police investigation report, the Office of the Government Attorney, Kathmandu, filed a case against him at the Kathmandu District Court.

Ahiraj has been accused of raping a young woman. The allegation states that on Jestha 4, 2081 BS (May 17, 2024), he raped her at her rented apartment in New Baneshwar, Kathmandu. The victim claims that while she was alone in her room, Ahiraj came and raped her. They were already acquainted prior to the incident.

The investigation was carried out under Section 219 of the Muluki Criminal Code Act 2074 (Nepal Penal Code), which deals with the offense of rape. The charge demands punishment as per Clause (ṅ) of Subsection 2 of Section 219.

According to Clause (ṅ), raping a woman aged 18 years or older is punishable by imprisonment ranging from seven to ten years.

The victim stated that Ahiraj took advantage of her being alone to commit the act. She had known him through close family connections. In her statement, she mentioned that Ahiraj used to visit her house from time to time due to their prior acquaintance.

She further stated that since then, Ahiraj had been trying to get close to her. Originally from Biratnagar, the young woman had moved to Kathmandu for her studies and had been living in a rented room in Baneshwar. She claims the rape occurred when Ahiraj came to her room.

“When he found out I had moved to Kathmandu, he began visiting my rented room in Baneshwar. Taking advantage of the fact that he was well-acquainted with my father, mother, and family members, he used that familiarity to exploit me and raped me on Jestha 4, 2081,” the victim said in her statement.

According to the investigation, Ahiraj entered her room under the pretext of delivering an urgent message from her family.

“When I asked him why he came in person and didn’t just inform me over the phone, and told him I was alone, he said, ‘Why are you afraid? I know your family well. You can trust me,’” she recounted.

The victim said that after she offered him water, he locked the door, covered her mouth, and raped her.

“When I asked why he locked the door, he suddenly covered my mouth and threw me onto the bed. He threatened me, saying, ‘If you scream, it will only disgrace you. I’m a man, nothing will happen to me.’ He then started pressing hard on my throat and mouth. I still tried to scream, but he said, ‘If you scream again, I’ll rape you and kill you,’” she stated.

The victim said he assaulted her while threatening to kill her and exploiting her vulnerability.

“He said, ‘None of your family members are here. No one will ever know who killed you. In Nepal, laws only work for those with money and power,’ and with that threat, he violated me,” she told the police. “After repeated sexual assault, I was bleeding from my private parts. Even when I pleaded with him to stop, he continued to rape me forcibly.”

She further alleged that after the rape, he threatened her not to speak about it, warning that the Madheshi community would socially boycott her.

“If this gets out, you and your family will be shamed to the point you won’t be able to show your faces anywhere. Your entire family might be forced to commit suicide,” she stated in her complaint. “And if you tell anyone, I’ll either kill you or kidnap and murder your brother,” she said, adding that he left the room wearing his clothes after making these threats.