A 30-year-old man, Pushpraj Ojha, also known as Sidhharth, has been arrested for the alleged rape of a French national in Udaipur on 22 June. The assault reportedly took place in the Sukher area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Badgaon Police Station.
French Tourist was in Udaipur for an ad shoot
According to Udaipur Superintendent of Police Yogesh Goyal, the victim, a French tourist visiting the city for a smartphone advertisement shoot, was sexually assaulted by a member of the production crew. Goyal said in a press statement that the woman arrived in Udaipur on 22nd June and had already completed some location shoots before the incident occurred.
Victim resisted, suspect raped her violently
As per the First Information Report (FIR), the victim and other crew members had dinner at the Greek Farm Café near Tiger Hill. After dinner, Pushpraj offered her a cigarette and invited her to see the city. Instead of taking her on a drive, he allegedly took her to his rented accommodation in Sukher. There, according to the FIR, he ignored her repeated requests to be dropped back at her hotel and also refused to let her charge her phone, which had run out of battery. When she resisted his advances, he allegedly raped her violently.
The survivor sought medical attention and lodged a police complaint the next day. Pushpraj was traced and arrested on 25 June while travelling on the Chittorgarh Highway. He initially denied the allegations but confessed during further questioning. A case has been registered under the rape provisions of the new criminal code, the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, at Badgaon Police Station.
In a press release, SP Goyal confirmed that Pushpraj has been formally charged and will be produced in court shortly. Police have stated that a charge sheet will be filed within seven days.
Pushpraj ‘s Bollywood connection
Pushpraj Ojha, a resident of Chittorgarh, runs a casting agency named Udaipur Casting Calls, which recruits talent for films and advertisements. He is said to have worked on small-scale Bollywood projects, including Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Hit: The First Case. According to police, he fled Udaipur after the alleged assault but was later tracked down and arrested. Investigators also confirmed that there had been no prior contact between him and the survivor before the shoot.
US Warns Women Tourists Traveling in India
The incident has once again raised serious concerns about the safety of travellers in India, particularly women. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the crime and said it had damaged the state’s image. The case has attracted international attention, particularly in light of a Level 2 travel advisory issued by the United States Department of State earlier this month. The advisory warned that rape is among the fastest-growing crimes in India and urged visitors, especially women, to exercise increased caution.
This assault has reinforced those concerns and renewed calls for stronger protections for both foreign and domestic travellers.
