Balesh Dhankhar, a once well-respected community leader, Indian-Origin Man Jailed for 40 Years in Australia for the horrific sexual assaults of five South Korean women.
The case has shocked both the Indian and Australian communities, revealing a deeply disturbing pattern of predatory behavior. Dhankhar, a former IT consultant, exploited his position of trust to carry out premeditated and meticulously planned attacks on vulnerable young women.
His crimes, which came to light in 2018, involved a sophisticated scheme of deception. Dhankhar posted fake job advertisements to lure South Korean women, primarily aged between 21 and 27, before drugging and sexually assaulting them in his Sydney residence.
The Australian court found him guilty of 39 offences, including 13 counts of rape, highlighting the calculated and manipulative nature of his actions. Despite his once-prominent status in the Indian-Australian community, his true nature as a serial predator has been exposed, leaving behind a trail of trauma and devastation.
The Unraveling of a Predatory Scheme
Balesh Dhankhar’s criminal activities were not impulsive acts but rather a prolonged campaign of sexual exploitation. Under the guise of offering employment opportunities, he preyed upon young South Korean women, many of whom were seeking jobs in Australia.
His strategy was elaborate—he used online job postings to attract applicants, conducted fake interviews, and maintained a spreadsheet ranking women based on their appearance, intelligence, and vulnerability.
Once he gained their trust, he would invite them to a meeting, either in his Sydney home or at a nearby location, where he drugged them before proceeding with his assaults.
The court revealed that he filmed his crimes for future sexual gratification, further underscoring the premeditated and perverse nature of his offenses. His victims, often unconscious or significantly impaired, were unable to resist or recall the full extent of their ordeal.
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Balesh Dhankhar’s downfall began when a fifth woman fell victim to his scheme in October 2018. She managed to report the assault, leading to an investigation that exposed his pattern of predatory behavior.
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A police raid on his apartment uncovered crucial evidence, including date-rape drugs and a hidden video recorder disguised as a clock radio. The overwhelming evidence left no room for doubt regarding his guilt.
The Court’s Condemnation and Sentencing
In March 2024, after years of legal proceedings, the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney sentenced Balesh Dhankhar to 40 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 30 years.
The judge, Michael King, delivered a scathing assessment of Dhankhar’s crimes, describing them as “premeditated, elaborately executed, manipulative, and highly predatory.” The court emphasized that he had acted with a callous disregard for his victims, treating them as mere objects for his own gratification.
Dhankhar displayed no emotion as the verdict was delivered, maintaining his stance that he had not drugged the women and that the encounters were consensual.
However, the court dismissed his defense, citing clear evidence of his malicious intent and complete disregard for consent. His claim that he had a different interpretation of consent than the law only further illustrated his lack of remorse.
Judge King highlighted the contrast between Dhankhar’s public persona and his private actions, noting that his role as a community leader was “entirely inconsistent” with the crimes he committed.
Until his arrest, Dhankhar had been a well-regarded figure, involved with the Indian-Australian community and affiliated with political and cultural organizations. His professional background as a data visualization consultant with major corporations further masked his predatory nature.
The Impact on Victims and the Community
The impact of Balesh Dhankhar’s crimes extends far beyond the courtroom. His victims, all young South Korean women, suffered not only physical and psychological trauma but also a profound sense of betrayal.
Many had come to Australia seeking better opportunities, only to fall prey to a predator who manipulated their trust for his own gain. The psychological scars left by such violations can take years to heal, if at all.
The case has also sent shockwaves through the Indian-Australian community, which had once regarded Dhankhar as a respectable figure.
His involvement with the Hindu Council of Australia and his association with political organizations painted an image of a responsible leader, making his crimes all the more shocking. Many within the community have condemned his actions, distancing themselves from his tainted legacy.
Additionally, the case raises broader concerns about the safety of foreign job seekers in Australia. Dhankhar’s method of luring women through fake job postings exposes a significant loophole in employment screening processes. Authorities are now urging greater vigilance and stricter regulations to prevent such exploitation in the future.
A Life Behind Bars
With his non-parole period set to expire in 2053, Dhankhar will be 83 years old by the time his full sentence concludes. His incarceration ensures that he will no longer pose a threat to society, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the depths of human depravity.
His case stands as one of the most egregious examples of sexual violence in Australia’s recent history, prompting discussions about justice, consent, and the need for better protections for vulnerable individuals.
Despite his conviction, Balesh Dhankhar remains unrepentant, continuing to deny his crimes. However, the overwhelming weight of evidence leaves no doubt about his guilt. His story is one of deception, manipulation, and abuse of power, a grim example of how even those in positions of influence can harbor dark and dangerous intentions.
As the victims continue their journey toward healing, Dhankhar’s imprisonment marks a small step toward justice. The case serves as a warning to other predators that their crimes will not go unpunished and that the law will hold them accountable.
For the five women who suffered at his hands, the sentence may not erase their trauma, but it does provide a measure of closure, ensuring that their voices were heard and their pain acknowledged.