Santosh Gupta, a former Indian journalist, worked as a news reporter at the local newspaper 'Dainik Navajyoti' in Rajasthan. |
In 1992, he gained attention for covering the scandalous Ajmer rape and blackmailing case in India. |
Gupta extensively reported on the Ajmer rape case until the mid-2000s and supported the prosecution as a witness. |
Later, he resigned from Dainik Navajyoti and joined a private hospital handling public relations. |
According to Gupta, over 250 minor girls were victims of rape and blackmail by a group of 18 individuals in the 1990s. |
He brought the heinous crime to light in an article published on 21st April 1992 in 'Dainik Navajyoti'. |
In interviews, Gupta discussed how the perpetrators exposed the victims through explicit pictures. |
After investigations, it was found that some shrine caretakers were part of the gang, with Farooq Chishti identified as the leader. |
One of the accused, Purshottam, who developed obscene pictures, died by suicide in 1994. |
In 1998, eight of the accused received life imprisonment from the district sessions court. |
Farooq Chishti was sentenced to life in 2007 by a fast-track court, despite claiming mental instability. |
In 2012, Salim Chishti, who had been evading arrest, was apprehended by authorities. |
Gupta highlighted the influence of Nafis Chishti and Farooq Chishti's social status in committing the crime during interviews. |
He also mentioned the social stigma that lingered in the city post-incident. |
The victims faced ongoing challenges due to how the authorities handled the case, as per Gupta. |
Interviews by Gupta revealed how religious influence helped the perpetrators gain support from higher authorities. |
In 2021, a web series titled 'Ajmer 1992' based on the case was announced. |
In July 2023, the film 'Ajmer 92' directed by Pushpendra Singh was released, focusing on the same incident and starring Karan Verma, Sumit Singh, and Rajesh Sharma. |