In yet another horrifying incident of abuse within educational institutions, Rajnish Kumar, a 50-year-old Geography professor from Uttar Pradesh's Seth Phool Chand Bagla PG College in Hathras, has been arrested after a 72-hour manhunt. Accused of sexually exploiting his students, Kumar not only abused his position of power but filmed these heinous acts, using the footage as a tool for blackmail and coercion. His arrest has triggered widespread outrage and raised alarming questions about the safety of women in educational spaces.
The Depth of the Horror: A Web of Sexual Abuse and Blackmail
Kumar’s actions, which spanned over several years, were far from impulsive; they were part of a sinister, well-thought-out scheme to sexually exploit his students. The 50-year-old was found to have recorded 59 videos of his assaults. These videos were not merely taken for personal gratification but were used as powerful leverage to force the victims into silence and, in some cases, to continue submitting to his demands for sexual favours.
As the police investigation unfolded, it became clear that Kumar’s manipulative tactics included offering students bribes, such as promising higher marks, academic promotions, and even jobs. However, the real horror lay in the way he used his recordings. Once a student fell into his trap, Kumar would blackmail them, threatening to release the footage of the assaults unless they complied with further sexual demands.
Key Details of the Case:
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Accused: Rajnish Kumar, Geography Professor and Chief Proctor at Bagla PG College.
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Crimes: Sexual assault, blackmail, and the creation of explicit content without consent.
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Number of Victims: At least 8 known female students and potentially many more.
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Modus Operandi: Lured students with promises of academic success and job placements; secretly filmed assaults; blackmailed victims into submission.
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Evidence Recovered: 59 explicit videos, mobile phones, laptops, and a USB flash drive containing further evidence of the crimes.
A 72-Hour Manhunt: The Search for the Predator
Kumar’s arrest did not come easily. After the police received an anonymous complaint detailing his crimes, a case was filed on March 13 at the Hathras Gate police station. Despite the mounting evidence, Kumar went into hiding, turning off his phone and trying to evade the authorities. The police, however, were relentless. They formed special teams and tracked him down to Prayagraj, where he was attempting to secure anticipatory bail before his arrest.
The shocking nature of the crime prompted officials to reward the Hathras police force with a ₹25,000 prize for their diligent efforts in locating the professor.
How Did Rajnish Kumar Begin His Reign of Terror?
Kumar’s deplorable actions were not an isolated incident; they were part of a long-running pattern of manipulation and sexual violence. According to his confession to the police, his first major exploit occurred in 2009 when he allegedly engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with a student. During one such encounter, a webcam accidentally recorded the act. This incident, he claimed, sparked a twisted "idea" in his mind to begin recording his sexual assaults on other women.
By 2016, Kumar had risen through the ranks, becoming the Head of the Geography Department at Bagla College, and by 2024, he was appointed Chief Proctor. It was during this period that he systematically began targeting students, using his power as an educator and administrator to force them into vulnerable positions. The true scale of his abuse came to light only after authorities were handed over a USB flash drive containing explicit videos and photographs of his sexual assaults, which had been circulated online.
Timeline of Events:
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2001: Kumar joins Bagla College as a lecturer.
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2008: His reign of terror begins, exploiting students for sex and blackmailing them.
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2016: Appointed Head of the Geography Department.
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2024: Becomes Chief Proctor.
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March 13, 2025: A case is filed against Kumar after an anonymous complaint; he goes into hiding.
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March 17, 2025: Arrested in Prayagraj after a 72-hour manhunt.
Exploitation Beyond the Classroom: What We Now Know About His Victims
The victims, many of whom were students seeking academic advancement, found themselves manipulated into physical relationships with Kumar under the guise of gaining favours for their studies. Once they were lured into his office or other private spaces, Kumar would sexually exploit them and secretly record the acts without their knowledge. Many of these students were unaware that they had been filmed until much later, when they were blackmailed into submitting to further demands.
The horror didn’t end with the students. Kumar reportedly even exploited female staff members, targeting a fourth-class staff member as early as 2019. The abuse was not limited to his students alone but also extended to anyone he could manipulate and control.
The Web of Deception: How He Used Technology for Exploitation
Kumar’s manipulation of technology was not only cunning but chilling. The professor installed specialized software on his devices to record his sexual assaults while keeping the screen dark, ensuring the victims remained unaware of the recordings. This level of premeditation reveals a deeply disturbing mind, one willing to go to great lengths to cover up his actions and continue exploiting vulnerable women for years.
This method of using technology to exploit and blackmail women is not just an invasion of privacy, but a direct violation of the trust placed in educational institutions and the people who work within them.
What the Police Found:
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59 videos of sexual assault on Kumar’s mobile phone.
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Photographs of explicit acts shared with authorities.
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Recorded footage uploaded to pornographic websites for further humiliation.
A Broader Question: Can Women Ever Be Safe?
The arrest of Rajnish Kumar brings us back to a broader, more troubling question: Can women ever truly be safe? From college campuses to workplaces, the abuse of power and authority seems to know no bounds. As we digest the details of this gruesome case, we are left wondering about the true scale of such incidents and how many more women have been subjected to similar exploitation but have remained silent, too fearful to speak out.
In this case, the bravery of the victims who came forward, the persistence of the police in their investigation, and the outcry from the public are the silver lining. But the reality is, we can never truly feel safe as long as people like Kumar remain in positions of power, abusing their authority and exploiting the trust placed in them. It is time for societal and institutional change to ensure that women are protected, and perpetrators of such vile acts are brought to justice without delay.
A Call for Justice and Protection
Rajneesh Kumar’s arrest may bring an end to his reign of terror, but it opens up larger questions about the safety of women in educational environments. The fact that an individual like Kumar was able to hide in plain sight for years, using his position of authority to exploit young women, is an indictment of the system. Authorities must do more to ensure such atrocities never happen again. Women should never have to live in fear, especially not in the very places that are supposed to empower them. We cannot continue to ignore the systemic issues that allow abuse to thrive.
As we await justice for the victims, one thing is certain: we must never stop demanding accountability. No woman should ever have to fear exploitation, abuse, or manipulation, especially from those entrusted with their education and safety.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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