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Main suspect in Bhopal rape tries to snatch pistol, gets shot in the leg: Police

According to police, the accused, identified as Farhan, was being taken for evidence collection from Bhopal’s Bilkisganj when the incident occurred.

According to the police, five victims have come forward and lodged FIRs in different police stations of Bhopal, leading to the arrest of five of six suspects in the case.

The main suspect in the alleged sexual assault of some college students in Bhopal was accidentally shot in the leg while trying to escape police custody, police said Saturday.

According to police, the accused, identified as Farhan, was being taken for evidence collection from Bhopal’s Bilkisganj when the incident occurred. The suspect told the police he wanted to attend nature’s call and had them

stop the vehicle, DCP Zone-1 Priyanka Shukla said.

“Then he tried to snatch the sub-inspector’s pistol and the pistol fired and Farhan got shot in the leg. He has been admitted to the hospital and further investigation is underway,” she said.

This comes days after multiple college students — including a minor — levelled rape, blackmail and sexual assault allegations against some men. According to the police, five victims have come forward and FIRs were lodged in different police stations of Bhopal, leading to the arrest of five of six suspects in the case.

Meanwhile, the rape and blackmail allegations have also become a political issue, with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav saying his government will not tolerate “jihad or love jihad” in the state.

Soon after Saturday’s incident, state Sports and Youth Affairs Vishwas Sarang waded into the row, saying, “He should have been shot in the chest. People like them are a burden on the planet and don’t have the right to live. People who indulge in love jihad have no right to live in this country and state.”

Following the allegations, the Bhopal Police have formed an SIT. According to police sources, the main suspect, Farhan Khan, alias Faraz, owns a restaurant near the engineering college. Most of the suspects, including Farhan, and the victims are believed to have studied together at the college.

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The suspects, who have been accused of “having hidden their religious identities” and trapped the women, have been booked on charges of rape, blackmail, intimidation as well as under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The sixth suspect, identified as Abrar Khan and said to be a resident of Muzaffarpur in Bihar, is still absconding, police said.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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