Former Madhesh province chief Rajesh Jha, also known as Rajesh Ahiraj, has been convicted in a rape case.
On Tuesday, a bench of Kathmandu District Court Judge Chandra Kanta Paudel found Jha guilty.
The court said that the sentencing will be determined in the next hearing.
The victim was represented by advocate Khem Prasad Adhikari, while Jha's defense team included advocate Bijay Mishra and 13 other lawyers.
A complaint against Jha was filed at the District Police Range, Kathmandu, on January 16, 2025.
Although the complaint was registered, police did not immediately seek an arrest warrant for Jha. They obtained an arrest warrant from the Kathmandu District Court on April 7, 2025.
According to the prosecution, Jha repeatedly raped the victim on May 17, 2024, when no one else was present in the room.
The victim alleged that, following the incident, Jha also threatened to kill her if she told anyone what had happened.
Jha served as province chief of Madhesh from February 19, 2021, to August 16, 2021.
He was arrested in connection with the rape case on July 20, 2025.
