A Mumbai-based female DJ, Hina Sheikh, narrowly escaped a horrific ordeal in Bhubaneswar after being targeted in an attempted rape and murder plot.
The incident occurred at a hotel following a DJ event organised by Club Leo in Raghunathpur, under Nandankanan police jurisdiction.
Based on Sheikh’s written complaint, the police have registered a case (No. 256/25) and arrested three individuals under sections 64(2)(f)/62/109(1)/3(5) of the relevant legal code, with the accused remanded to court custody.
The arrested individuals include the prime accused, Raj alias Raghunath Sahu (30) from Berhampur, Ganjam; Anand Sethi (27) from Kharabela Nagar; and Sweta Saloni (21) from Baliapanda, Puri. The police are actively pursuing other suspects involved in the case.
Hina Sheikh, a skilled DJ event maker, was hired for Rs. 22,000 by Club Leo for a performance on July 11. The club owner, Raghunath Sahu, arranged her travel, paying Rs. 14,000 in advance via Google Pay for her flight. Sheikh arrived in Bhubaneswar on an Indigo flight and performed at the event. After the event, she was accommodated at Pearl Leaf Hotel, where she discovered that Sahu had booked a room directly opposite hers.
Later that evening, Sheikh was invited for dinner by Sweta, one of the accused. Upon arriving at Sahu’s room, she found Sahu, Sweta, Anand, and others—identified as Rohit, Muna, and another individual—drinking alcohol and smoking. Sensing danger, Sheikh attempted to leave, but Sweta restrained her, pressuring her to spend the night with Sahu and threatening her life if she refused. Sahu then allegedly assaulted her. When Sheikh tried to flee, the group restrained her, with some attempting to strangle her. She managed to escape to her room and locked herself in, but the accused continued to threaten her, banging on her door.
Sheikh promptly contacted emergency services via 112 and lodged a complaint with the Nandankanan police. During interrogation, the arrested individuals confessed to their involvement.
Police revealed that Raghunath Sahu, the main accused, is a habitual offender with seven prior cases registered against him in various police stations. Efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects are ongoing.
