Nagpur-based psychologist raped 50 girls over 15 years on the pretext of counseling, arrested

Last update:January 14, 2025, 8:17 pm EST

Identified as Rajesh Dhoke, a psychologist and father of two, sexually abused young girls on the pretext of counseling in residential camps

Police booked the accused in three cases including POCSO | Representative image

A police official on Tuesday said that a 47-year-old psychologist was arrested in Nagpur on charges of blackmailing and raping at least 50 girls in the last 15 years.

Police added that identified as Rajesh Dhoke, a psychologist and father of two, was sexually exploiting young girls on the pretext of counseling in residential camps.

Rajesh was arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Method of operation

In rural areas like Bhandara and Gondia, Rajesh organized personal development camps, police alleged, adding that he sexually abused girls.

He also took explicit photos of victims and used them to blackmail them, ensuring they did not report the incidents to the police. Even after the victims got married, he continued to attack and threaten them.

Rajesh faces numerous allegations of molesting women in his neighborhood and the police have obtained CCTV footage that clearly shows him behaving inappropriately and aggressively.

His actions sparked outrage among residents, leading to incidents in which he was physically beaten by residents. However, these confrontations apparently had no effect as he continued his disturbing antics without any sign of remorse or change.

The issue came to the fore when one of his former students, suffering from repeated abuse and blackmail, lodged a complaint with the Hudkeshwar police.