Raj

**Raj** is a Shadowhunter at the New York Institute, often seen enforcing the orders of the head of the Institute.

## History

Raj was among the Shadowhunters ordered by acting head of the Institute Lydia Branwell to search Clary's room for the Mortal Cup. When Jace Wayland tried to stop him, particularly when he was going through Clary's drawers, Raj explained that he was just doing his job.

Raj and others were then assigned to Meliorn when the Clave, through Lydia, demanded the Seelie's arrest and was among the guards who accompanied Alec Lightwood during Meliorn's transfer to the Silent City. When Isabelle Lightwood and others later intercepted and ambushed them to rescue Meliorn, he was knocked out by Isabelle.

He later briefed Lydia about his vague recollection of the events, telling her that werewolves and vampires were involved, but he was certain that it was a Shadowhunter that got him. When Lydia suspected and blamed Isabelle, Raj agreed, pointing out that her relationship with Meliorn was a well-known fact and thus gave her cause. Lydia then had Raj arrest her. While Isabelle was locked up in a room with Raj keeping watch, he let Alec in to see her.

When Clary arrived at the Institute after being abducted by Valentine's men, Raj tried to stop her; when he was unable to, he called the Institute's new head, Victor Aldertree. Later, Aldertree assigned to the room where the warlock Magnus Bane was treating Alec, under orders to ensure that Alec would not be Portaled to Idris and to escort the warlock out if Alec's condition did not improve despite his efforts. After a while, Raj tried to do so, enraging Magnus, who knocked him out with his magic. Isabelle took advantage of the situation by Marking Raj with the Shapeshifting rune to make him look like Alec while the real Alec has been Portaled to Magnus's apartment. He was later de-glamoured by Aldertree while still out cold on the bed.

At one point, Raj was with a woman named Kathy and apparently broke his heart.

When a demon infiltrated the Institute, Raj was among those who was possessed by the demon. As he and Lydia were not on good terms, when they crossed paths next, the demon fed on his anger towards her and attacked her. Alec shot him before he could kill her, and the demon left his body.

When Alec, now the head of the Institute, briefed the Institute residents about plans to use the Institute's core to flood the city's ley lines with angelic energy and stop the recent wave of demonic corruption on the ley lines, and on warlocks' magic. Raj felt strongly against the idea and challenged him, informing them of the risk it poses: that the exposure of the core to a demonic surge could blow up the Institute, or worse. He suggested that they just quarantine the warlocks outside New York instead; while some agreed with him, many opposed this as well. Being head of the Institute, Alec had the final call and ordered them to evacuate.

Raj defied Alec's orders and locked the Institute's system, making the core uncontrollable through their computers. He got into a minor scuffle with Jace after telling them, and was easily pinned down by Jace. Isabelle was unable to unlock the system and Alec had to manually open the access to the core for Magnus. Raj and others who were involved were banished to Wrangel Island for their insubordination.

## Appearances

 Moo Shu to Go:*Absent*

 Iron Sisters:*Absent*

 A Window Into an...:*Absent*

## Trivia

* In a deleted scene of the episode *The Powers That Be*, Raj is revealed to have been in Idris for around two weeks; after expressing his contempt over Alec becoming the new Head of the New York Institute, Isabelle puts him in charge of ichor duty.

## References

1. ↑ 1x09: *Rise Up*
2. ↑ 1x10: *This World Inverted*
3. ↑ 2x03: *Parabatai Lost*
4. ↑ 2x04: *Day of Wrath*
5. ↑ 3x02: *The Powers That Be*
6. ↑ Shadowhunters Season 3 Deleted Scene | Izzy Defends Alec | Freeform on YouTube