Former Bishnoi Mahasabha chief arrested in rape case

Devender Budhia, a former president of All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, was arrested by the Hisar police from Rajasthan in the rape case of a 20-year-old woman. He was produced in a court, which sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.

The Haryana Crime Branch arrested him from Jodhpur yesterday and brought him to Hisar. Budhia complained of health issues, after which he was taken to the Civil Hospital.

The victim alleged that the accused started abusing her in 2022, when she and her family approached Budhia to help her go to Australia for further studies. Budhia offered to help her with IELTS coaching.

In February 2024, he called her to Chandigarh, where he allegedly raped her at a hotel after giving her an intoxicant. She claims he filmed the assault and later threatened to implicate her in a prostitution case if she resisted. Again, in June 2024, he contacted her and arranged her stay at a PG in Jaipur, allegedly under the pretence of IELTS studies and again assaulted her. She alleged that Budhia threatened to kill her family and claimed that he had connections with actor Salman Khan and offered to make her a star if she cooperated.

The victim alleged that she was again sexually assaulted in September 2024. Disturbed by repeated harassment, she revealed the matter to her mother and eventually approached the police.

The police registered an FIR against Budhia under Section 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), 354-D (stalking), 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation) on January 24, 2025. Budhia had sought anticipatory bail, but was denied relief.