A jury at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney has found Balesh Dhankhar, former chief of the Overseas Friends of the BJP, guilty of luring five women into a network of deceit, incapacitating them with drugs, and keeping souvenirs of his cruel attacks.
Dhankhar was accused of committing a total of 39 offenses, which reportedly occurred between January and October 2018. These charges included 13 counts of rape, six of intentionally administering a drug to facilitate rape, 17 of recording private videos without consent, and three of indecent assault.
The guilty verdict was delivered yesterday to each of the 39 charges against Dhankar. The jury members who viewed distressing footage of the perpetrator’s assaults were deeply affected by the viciousness of his actions, media reports said.
When Dhankhar requested to stay out on bail, Judge King denied his request, and he was subsequently handcuffed and escorted away by officers.
The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) in its news report on Monday called Dhankhar “one of the worst rapists in Sydney’s recent history”.
According to the report, Dhankhar’s method of operation involved meeting women who had replied to his fake job advertisement for translating from Korean to English. He would meet them at a bar located near his apartment in Sydney’s Hilton Hotel, drug them, and then rape them at the same hotel. Additionally, he filmed the criminal act.
Dhankhar was arrested on October 21, 2018, when the fifth person he was sexually assaulting regained consciousness and concealed herself in the bathroom while sending messages to a friend.
The SMH report said police found dozens of videos of Dhankhar having sex with women when they raided his CBD apartment in October 2018.
During the trial this month when Crown prosecutor Kate Nightingale said, “The videos [bookmarked online] are very similar to the videos you took,” Dhankar maintained, “It is just a porn video, it has nothing to do with unconscious, impaired.”
Dhankhar has another court appearance scheduled for May, and his sentencing will take place later in the year.
Reports said Dhankar was one of the founding members of the Overseas Friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Sydney, which allegedly played a crucial part in coordinating the welcome reception of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sydney in 2014.
He stepped down from his position in 2018 when the trial got underway. The organisation had tweeted, “Balesh Dhankar resigned from OF BJP Australia in July 2018. We strongly denounce his actions, and he must face the consequences of his actions under the law.”
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
