Uttarakhand women empowerment minister accuses husband of cheating, violence and murder conspiracy

Uttarakhand Women Empowerment and Child Development Minister Rekha Arya has filed a police complaint against her husband, Girdhari Lal Sahu, also known as Pappu Girdhari, accusing him of physical assault, cheating, forgery and conspiring to kill her, as per a TOI report. The FIR was registered at Garhi Cantt police station on Thursday evening, with Arya also alleging that Sahu had threatened her minor children.

Police registered the case at around 7.25 pm under 13 sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 120-B for criminal conspiracy, Section 323 for voluntarily causing hurt and Section 420 for cheating. The FIR also invokes three provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Arya disclosed the complaint in a video late on Thursday evening. She was subsequently taken to hospital after reporting that she felt unwell. Further details about her condition were not immediately available.


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Arya alleges husband concealed previous marriage

In her complaint, Arya said she married Sahu in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, on July 6, 2004. She alleged that he had represented himself as unmarried despite having a wife and children from an earlier marriage.

According to the complaint, Arya discovered the alleged deception several years later but remained silent for the sake of their children.

She further alleged that Sahu later developed relationships with other women. Arya claimed that when she confronted him, he issued written and verbal apologies but continued the relationships. She alleged that his behaviour became violent when she objected.

Minister alleges assault, threats and caste-based abuse

The FIR states that Sahu allegedly assaulted and abused Arya and threatened to kill her after she objected to his relationships. She also alleged that he used caste-based slurs against her in front of staff at her official residence.

“Upon opposing these relationships, Girdhari Lal Sahu started physically assaulting, abusing, and threatening to kill the applicant. On several occasions, he also used caste-slurs degradingly in front of staff at the applicant’s official residence,” the complaint stated.

Arya alleged that the abuse and threats continued, leaving her fearful for her own safety and that of her children.

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Forgery and alleged murder plot cited in complaint

Arya also accused Sahu of forging her signature and preparing fabricated documents to indicate that she had retired as a director from companies with which she was associated. She maintained that she had neither signed the documents nor submitted any resignation.

The minister further claimed that she had obtained an audio recording in which Sahu could allegedly be heard speaking to a woman and conspiring to kill her.

In her complaint, Arya expressed apprehension that Sahu could commit a serious crime against her or her minor children at any time. The allegations are part of the FIR, and the information provided does not establish whether they have been independently verified.