KATHMANDU: Rajesh Jha ‘Ahiraj’, the former Chief of Nepal’s Madhesh Province, is currently on the run following a rape allegation.
Despite police efforts to locate him since February, his whereabouts remain unknown.
The complaint, registered at the Kathmandu District Police Office on February 15, accuses Ahiraj of repeatedly raping a girl starting from when she was 17.
The victim, now over 20, has submitted both audio evidence and CCTV footage as part of her case.
Ahiraj, appointed as Province Chief on February 19, 2021, during the tenure of then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, has long portrayed himself as a nationalist and Madhesi rights activist. Previously very active on social media, he has gone completely silent since the allegations surfaced.
According to the victim’s family, Ahiraj has used his close aides to offer bribes and issue threats in an attempt to silence the survivor. “First he tried to lure her with money, then shifted to direct intimidation,” said a relative of the victim. “The police have failed to arrest him, while the victim lives in fear of her life.”
The Kathmandu District Court has issued an arrest warrant against Ahiraj, but more than two months have passed without his detention. The victim, fearing for her safety, has made repeated visits to the police station in Kathmandu to seek protection.
Sources say Ahiraj tried to pressure the victim to withdraw the case, allegedly offering up to Rs 6.5 million (around USD 50,000).
“Initially, he offered Rs 2 million, then increased it,” the family claimed. “He even sent journalists to threaten her, suggesting they would publish stories labeling her a honey trap.”
The family also reported receiving death threats after refusing to settle the case. Kathmandu District Police Spokesperson SP Apilraj Bohora confirmed that locating and arresting Rajesh Jha is a high priority for the police.
The case continues to draw public attention, raising concerns over political protection, justice for survivors, and the effectiveness of law enforcement in cases involving high-profile figures.
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