A controversy has erupted in Haryana after Chief Minister Naib Saini honoured Rekha Dhiman, a woman accused of filing false rape cases, on International Women’s Day. The recognition, meant to celebrate women’s empowerment, has raised serious concerns, as multiple cases of false allegations and blackmail have been filed against her in Jind, Rohtak, and Hisar.
Following public outrage, the Chief Minister has ordered an investigation into the matter, assigning Jind's Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Vivek Arya to look into how she was selected for the honour.
Rekha Dhiman’s name was recommended for the honour by the Women and Child Development Department in Jind. However, she had spent 33 days in jail in 2020 after being found guilty of falsely accusing someone of rape. Despite her criminal background, the department ignored these past cases and included her name in the list of women being recognized by the Chief Minister.
Rekha Dhiman has been accused of misusing laws meant to protect women by filing false rape and harassment cases.
- 2009: She falsely accused a young man from her village of rape, forcing his family to leave the village due to social pressure.
- 2012: She made similar allegations in Rohtak, which were later proven false.
- 2015: Another false accusation was filed in Hisar, which was also dismissed after investigation.
Each time, investigations revealed that her allegations were baseless, leading to serious doubts about her credibility.
This is not the first time that the Jind Women and Child Development Department has promoted a controversial figure. In 2022, the department featured Rekha Dhiman’s photograph on a banner at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, which was later removed after objections. Now, despite her criminal history, she was honored again, raising concerns about the department’s decision-making process.
After the issue gained attention on social media, Chief Minister Naib Saini ordered an immediate investigation. His media adviser, Ashok Chhabra, stated that action would be taken against any officials found responsible for the mistake. Meanwhile, Jind Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Imran Raza claimed he was unaware of Rekha Dhiman’s past criminal cases.
The investigation is expected to reveal how her name was recommended for the honor despite her past, and whether officials deliberately ignored her history.
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