Minister raises concerns over her and her children’s safety; allegations include harassment, caste-based abuse and concealment of marital status
DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against her husband, Girdhari Lal Sahu, also known as Pappu Girdhari, accusing him of assault, harassment, caste-based abuse, criminal intimidation and concealing his marital status at the time of their marriage.
According to the complaint, the FIR was registered at Dehradun’s Cantonment Police Station on October 15, 2026. The complaint reportedly invokes 10 provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and three provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The allegations have not yet been independently established, and their validity will depend on the outcome of the investigation.
Minister Shares Video and Alleged Audio Clip
After filing the FIR, Arya released a video on Facebook and shared an audio clip purportedly connected to her husband.
In the video, the minister expressed distress over the developments, stating that the audio had raised serious questions about her marital relationship and the commitment she had made throughout her married life.
Arya also expressed concern for her own safety and that of her children. She said the decision to approach the police was taken in view of these concerns and to protect her children.
Alleged Concealment of Previous Marriage
According to the complaint, Rekha Arya married Girdhari Lal Sahu on July 6, 2004, in accordance with Hindu customs.
She has alleged that her husband represented himself as unmarried at the time of their marriage. She claims that she subsequently learned that he had allegedly been married before and had children from the previous marriage.
The complaint further alleges that her husband was aware of her Scheduled Caste identity but nevertheless concealed relevant information about his marital status.
Allegations of Relationships with Other Women and Assault
Arya has also alleged that her husband had relationships with other women. According to the FIR, she was allegedly subjected to physical assault and verbal abuse when she objected to these relationships.
The complaint also refers to alleged death threats. Citing the audio clip, the minister has expressed apprehension that a conspiracy to kill her may have been planned.
However, the authenticity and context of the audio, along with the allegations made in the complaint, remain matters for investigation.
Investigation to Establish the Facts
The case has brought serious allegations involving a serving cabinet minister into public attention. At this stage, the claims are based on the complaint filed by Arya.
The police investigation, examination of relevant evidence and statements from the parties concerned will be crucial in establishing the facts. No conclusion regarding the allegations can be drawn until they are examined through the appropriate legal process.
