The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Tuesday, 19 May took suo motu cognisance of media reports concerning the alleged prolonged gang rape, blackmail, sexual exploitation, and subsequent suicides of two sisters from Jodhpur district, Rajasthan. The case has triggered widespread outrage and protests across the region, with the victims' family alleging years of abuse and repeated police inaction.

What the NCW Has Demanded

NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has written to the Rajasthan Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, directing them to ensure 'immediate, impartial, and time-bound action in the matter.' The Commission has sought a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) within seven days.

Specifically, the NCW has asked for information on the legal provisions invoked in the First Information Report (FIR), whether all named accused have been arrested, the current status of the investigation, and details of digital and forensic evidence collected so far. It has also sought clarification on the allegations of police inaction despite earlier complaints by the victims' family, and whether accountability has been fixed for the officials concerned.

The Commission additionally called for details on legal assistance, psychological counselling, security, and rehabilitation support being provided to the family, as well as steps being taken to prevent such cases in the future. 'Such heinous crimes against women and negligence at any level will not be tolerated under any circumstances,' the NCW stated.

The Case: What Allegedly Happened

According to the complaint, the elder sister was allegedly trapped by Mahipal, a local e-Mitra service centre operator, who reportedly recorded obscene videos of her without her knowledge and used the footage for blackmail. The complaint, filed on 11 April, named eight individuals — including Mahipal, Shivraj, Gopal, Vijaram, Dinesh, Manoj, and Pukhraj — accusing them of gang rape and repeated threats.

According to the complaint, Mahipal and his associates allegedly exploited the elder sister for nearly four years, continuously extorting money through blackmail. Unable to bear the harassment and trauma, the elder sister allegedly died by suicide on 20 March. She had reportedly warned police that she would take the extreme step if justice was not delivered.

Although an FIR was registered on the basis of her complaint, the family alleged that no significant action followed in the subsequent month. Nearly two months later, the younger sister also allegedly ended her life after failing to secure justice despite approaching the police multiple times.

Allegations of Police Inaction

The victims' family has alleged that repeated pleas to the police went unheeded before both deaths. The NCW's intervention directly addresses this, seeking accountability from officials who were allegedly informed of the threat to the elder sister's life before she died. The case has drawn sharp criticism from local communities and social organisations over the handling of the complaints.

This comes amid a broader pattern of concern in India over the enforcement of laws protecting women from sexual exploitation and blackmail — particularly in cases involving non-consensual recordings used for extortion, sometimes referred to as 'sextortion.'

What Happens Next

Rajasthan Police and the state's Chief Secretary are now required to submit the ATR to the NCW within seven days. The Commission's scrutiny is expected to put pressure on investigators to accelerate arrests and ensure that the family receives state support. Civil society groups in Jodhpur have demanded a court-monitored probe into both the crimes and the alleged police lapses.