This development comes shortly after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Hans Raj on November 6 under Sections 140(3), 115(2), 351(2), 324(4), and 3(5) of the BNS at the Tissa Police Station for offences related to kidnapping, wrongful confinement, assault, and criminal intimidation. The complaint, filed by the victim’s father, accused the legislator, his personal secretary Lekh Raj, and another associate, Muniyan Khan, of forcibly taking his daughter and him to Shimla and threatening them with dire consequences if they did not change their earlier statement.

In August last year, a case had also been registered against the legislator at the Women’s Police Station in Chamba on the complaint of the same woman, who had alleged that the MLA was sending obscene messages, demanding nude photos, and threatening her. However, a few days later, she went live on social media and withdrew her allegations, claiming she had made them under mental duress.

Responding to the renewed allegations, Hans Raj described them as a politically motivated conspiracy aimed at maligning his image.

Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Women’s Commission Chairperson Vidya Negi has sought a report on the case from the Chamba Police.

Hans Raj is the third BJP leader from the state to face sexual assault charges in the past month. On October 11, the Solan police arrested 81-year-old Ram Kumar Bindal, elder brother of Himachal Pradesh BJP President Rajiv Bindal, for allegedly raping a 25-year-old woman. On October 14, a rape case was registered against Brijeshwar, son of former Shimla MP Virender Kashyap, for allegedly having physical relations with a woman on the pretext of marriage. She lodged the complaint after discovering that he was already married.