Uttarakhand minister's husband arrested for conspiracy to kill
What's the story
Girdhari Lal Sahu, the husband of Uttarakhand state cabinet minister Rekha Arya, was arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Uttarakhand police, Hindustan Times reported. The arrest took place near a private university in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. Sahu was booked on charges including voluntarily causing hurt, using casteist slurs, conspiring to kill Arya, and forging documents to remove her as a director in four companies.
Domestic violence
Allegations of conspiracy to murder, forgery
Arya, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Almora's Someshwar constituency, had filed a police complaint in Dehradun on October 15.
She accused Sahu of forgery, domestic violence, caste-based harassment, and conspiracy to murder.
In her complaint, she alleged that Sahu hid a previous marriage before marrying her and continued relationships with other women.
Investigation progress
SIT substantiates allegations during probe
The SIT, led by SP Rural Jaya Baloni, substantiated allegations of using casteist slurs, conspiring to kill Arya, and forging documents during their probe.
Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pramendra Dobhal said Sahu colluded with his nephew Satendra Rathore to forge the minister's signatures and fabricate documents.
Rathore was also arrested from Bareilly in connection with the case.
Criminal record
Sahu has at least 44 criminal cases against him
SSP Dobhal revealed that Sahu has a long criminal history with at least 44 cases registered against him in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
These include serious charges such as murder, attempt to murder, rioting, and offenses under the Gangster Act.
The investigation is still underway, with more arrests possible, as per SSP Dobhal.
Court ruling
High court dismisses petition seeking protection from arrest
Sahu's arrest comes after the Uttarakhand High Court dismissed his petition seeking protection from arrest and quashing of charges against him.
Justice Alok Mahra observed that the allegations prima facie disclosed serious cognizable offenses and cannot be dismissed as a mere matrimonial dispute.
The court also noted that the authenticity of the alleged forged documents and audio recordings would require examination.