Himachal MLA booked under Pocso Act on woman’s complaint

November 8, 2025

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh BJP legislator Hans Raj was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on the complaint of a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted when she was a minor, the police said on Saturday.

MLA Faces Charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault

The legislator, who represents the Churah constituency in Chamba district, was booked under Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the POCSO Act and Section 69 (criminalising sexual intercourse obtained through deceitful means) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The complaint was lodged on Friday evening at the Women’s Police Station.

The FIR was registered after the woman recorded her statement under Section 183 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Chamba.

Victim Alleges Exploitation and Threats

Last week, the woman went live on Facebook, making serious allegations of sexual exploitation and intimidation against the MLA and his aides, claiming to have supporting evidence.

In her seven-minute video, she accused the legislator of ruining her family and expressed fear for her life.
Hans Raj, in response, released a video denying the allegations and terming them politically motivated.

The victim’s father alleged that the MLA’s aides kidnapped them, broke their mobile phones, and threatened to burn down their house if they did not withdraw the case.

Previous Complaint and Retraction

A police officer said the victim, now in her early twenties, claimed that Hans Raj had sexually abused her when she was a minor and had physical relations with her against her wishes.

She identified the locations where the alleged assaults took place.

Last year, the same woman had lodged an FIR against the MLA for allegedly harassing her over the phone and demanding obscene pictures but later retracted her statement.