Full Breakdown
Uttarakhand Minister Rekha Arya Files FIR Against Husband Over Alleged Assault, Caste Abuse and Murder Plot
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Allegations and FIR Details
On October 15, 2026, Uttarakhand Women Empowerment and Child Development Minister Rekha Arya lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at the Cantonment police station in Dehradun. The complaint accuses her husband, Girdhari Lal Sahu (also known as “Pappu Girdhari”), of physical assault, verbal caste-based harassment, forging her signature to remove her from director positions in companies, and conspiring to kill her and their minor children. The FIR lists thirteen sections of the Indian Penal Code—including criminal conspiracy (120-B), cheating, forgery (467-471) and voluntarily causing hurt (323)—and three provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Background and Marital History
Arya and Sahu were married under Hindu rites on July 6, 2004. Arya, a member of a Scheduled Caste notified in Uttarakhand, later discovered that Sahu had concealed a prior marriage and had children from that union. She said she remained silent for several years on the advice of family members and to protect her own children’s future. In recent months, Arya alleges that Sahu began maintaining “illicit relationships” with other women; when she objected, he allegedly apologized in writing and verbally, but continued the behavior, leading to the alleged assaults and threats.
Legal Charges and Statutory Provisions
The FIR charges Sahu with:
- Criminal conspiracy (IPC 120-B)
- Cheating (IPC 420)
- Forgery of documents (IPC 467-471)
- Voluntarily causing hurt (IPC 323)
- Bigamy (IPC 495)
- Cruelty by a husband (IPC 498A)
- Criminal intimidation (IPC 506)
- Offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (sections 3(1)(d), 3(1)(dh), 3(2)(va))
Police officials, including Dehradun City Superintendent of Police Shekhar Suyal, confirmed that the case has been registered and that “further investigation is on.” Inspector Santosh Singh Kunwar has been assigned to lead the probe.
Official Responses
- Police: The registration of the FIR and the list of charges have been confirmed by the Dehradun police. No comment has been recorded from Sahu.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Whether a woman is ordinary or prominent, she must not bear domestic atrocities. She must not bear them; she must speak out,” — Rekha Arya, child development minister
- “My family told me to consider the future of my own children when I got to know that he was already married and decided to take action,” — Ms. Arya, child development minister
- “He abused me and used caste-based slurs in front of my staff at my official residence. Also, he tried to remove me from director positions in certain companies using my forged signatures,” — Ms. Arya, child development minister
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The complaint relies heavily on two audio recordings that Arya says capture Sahu conspiring to kill her. Both Hindustan Times and Mathrubhumi note that the authenticity of these recordings has not been independently verified. No public statement from Sahu or his legal representative has been reported, and the investigation’s progress remains undisclosed.
What’s Next
Police have indicated that the investigation is ongoing, with a forensic analysis of the audio recordings expected. The FIR’s inclusion of multiple IPC sections and SC/ST Act provisions suggests that the case could proceed to the courts, but no timeline for hearings or further legal action has been announced.