Record-breaking mountaineer Nirmal Purja, popularly known as NIMSDAI, has been accused of sexual harassment by two female climbers.
In the American newspaper ‘The New York Times’ published on Friday, the woman claimed that Purja made sexual advances towards her despite her disagreement, from kissing to touching her private parts.
According to The New York Times, former Miss Finland Lotta Hinsta accused Purja of sexually assaulting her in a hotel in Kathmandu during a meeting with him on March 30, 2023.
On March 2023, Purja called former Miss Finland Lotta to his hotel suite at the Marriott in Kathmandu to discuss working together on an expedition Hintsa was organizing, according to the report.
Earlier, in a memoir published in December, the professional mountaineer and former Miss Finland had briefly described an upsetting incident with a “very famous male climber” whom she didn’t name.
In the New York Times published on Friday, she revealed that the person was Purja. Purja allegedly took her to her room on the pretext of having coffee and made sexual advances on her.
“I was frozen and confused, as he led to the bed. I refused and continued to say no, as he started to remove my clothes. I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience as he removed my clothes,” she told the New York Times.
Hinsta says that Purja is an ex-British army man and an influential person, so she did not show agitation in front of him.
The New York Times noted that Purja did not want to comment on the matter. But his lawyer, Philip Kelly, responded in writing, saying the allegations were “false and defamatory,” the newspaper reported.
A Californian Dr. April Leonardo also accused Purja of repeatedly kissing her without her permission. She claims that she was misbehaved by Purja who was his guide while climbing Mount K2, the second-highest peak in the world. However, Purja’s lawyer has also denied her allegations.
Mr. Purja helps climbers scale mountains through his guiding company, Elite Exped.
He has guided high-profile female clients from Qatari royal family member Asma Al Thani to the Russian model Victoria Bonya.
