Uttarakhand Minister Accuses Husband of Bigamy, Assault and Caste-Based Abuse

Current Summary

Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya, who holds the Women and Child Welfare portfolio, has filed a police complaint against her husband, Girdhari Lal Sahu, also known as Pappu Girdhari, at the Cantt Police Station in Dehradun. The FIR cites IPC sections 120B, 323, 420, 467, 468, 471, 495, 498A, 504 and 506, along with sections 3(1)(d), 3(1)(dh) and 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. According to the complaint, Arya, 48, a resident of Yamuna Colony in Dehradun, married Sahu, a resident of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, on July 6, 2004, according to Hindu customs. She alleges Sahu concealed a previous marriage at the time of their wedding and that she later learned he had children from it. She says that when she protested his relationships with other women, he admitted the matter and apologised both verbally and in writing, but later physically assaulted and abused her, used caste-based slurs in front of staff at her official government residence, and conspired to kill her, a claim she says is based on an audio recording that left her 'shaken.' A separate report adds that her complaint also alleges forged documents and a forged signature were used in an attempt to remove her as a director of a company. In a public video message, Arya said she had chosen to speak out to protect her children and urged other women facing domestic abuse, regardless of social standing, to raise their voices. She said she fears for her own safety and that of her minor children. The authenticity of the alleged recording and the claims made in the complaint have not been independently verified, and the police investigation is ongoing.

What Changed

• 15 Oct, 06:31 pm
  The FIR filed by Minister Rekha Arya states she married Girdhari Lal Sahu, a resident of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, on July 6, 2004, according to Hindu customs. Arya, 48, a resident of Yamuna Colony in Dehradun, said she learned years later that Sahu was already married with children, and that when she confronted him over relationships with other women, he admitted the matter and apologised both verbally and in writing before later threatening her. She said the caste-based remarks were made in front of staff at her official government residence.
• 15 Oct, 05:21 pm
  Minister Rekha Arya, Uttarakhand's Women and Child Welfare Minister, has been identified as the minister in this case. She filed an FIR at Cantt Police Station in Dehradun against her husband, Girdhari Lal Sahu alias Pappu Girdhari, under IPC sections 120B, 323, 420, 467, 468, 471, 495, 498A, 504 and 506, and under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act sections 3(1)(d), 3(1)(dh) and 3(2)(va). Her complaint alleges Sahu concealed an earlier marriage, had alleged relationships with other women, physically assaulted and threatened her, used caste-based slurs, and conspired to kill her based on an audio recording she says she received. A separate report says the complaint also alleges forged documents were used in an attempt to remove her as a director of a company. Arya said she fears for her safety and that of her minor children.
• 15 Oct, 04:51 pm
  Signal detected: Uttarakhand Minister Accuses Husband of Bigamy, Assault and Caste-Based Abuse