The dispute between Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya and her husband, Girdhari Lal Sahu, alias Pappu Girdhari, has taken a serious turn, with a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to investigate the case registered on the minister’s complaint.
The allegations include cheating, assault, the use of caste-based slurs, forged signatures and a conspiracy to murder. Following the registration of the case, Sahu has also taken to social media to level corruption allegations against the minister. The claims made by both sides will require independent verification before any conclusions can be drawn.
The SIT will be headed by Superintendent of Police (Rural) Jaya Baloni. The team includes Sahaspur Circle Officer Anuj Kumar, Cantt Inspector Santosh Kunwar and City Kotwal K.C. Bhatt, along with five other members. According to SP Baloni, the team will soon take possession of documents related to the case and proceed with the investigation. Investigators will examine the allegations mentioned in the complaint, relevant records and available evidence to establish the facts.
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Allegation of Concealing First Marriage
Rekha Arya lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against her husband at Cantt Police Station late Thursday evening. The complaint invokes several serious provisions, including those relating to cheating, criminal conspiracy, assault and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Girdhari Lal Sahu is reportedly a resident of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.
In her complaint, the minister alleged that her husband concealed the fact of his first marriage before marrying her. According to the complaint, she was subjected to physical assault when she objected to his alleged relationships with other women. She also alleged that caste-based slurs were used against her in front of staff members at the government residence, causing her humiliation.
These allegations have yet to be established through an investigation. The police will need to examine the circumstances described in the complaint and assess any supporting evidence before determining the next course of action.
Claims of Forged Signatures and a Murder Plot
The complaint also alleges that forged signatures were used to remove the minister from the directorships of certain companies. Arya claimed that she was removed from these positions through the alleged use of fraudulent signatures.
In addition, she referred to an audio recording and alleged that it indicated a conspiracy to kill her. She also expressed concerns about the safety of her minor children, claiming that their lives could be at risk.
The allegations have added to the seriousness of the case. The audio recording, company-related documents and signatures cited in the complaint are likely to be important elements of the investigation. However, the available information does not establish whether the authenticity of the audio recording has been independently verified. The SIT will need to examine the evidence before reaching any conclusions regarding the allegations.
Husband Hits Back Through Facebook Live
After the FIR was registered, Girdhari Lal Sahu responded through Facebook Live and released three videos presenting his side of the dispute. He levelled serious corruption allegations against Rekha Arya, claiming that the minister had accumulated assets worth ₹210 crore. He called for an impartial investigation into the alleged wealth.
However, no supporting documents or independent verification of the ₹210-crore claim have been established in the available information. The allegation therefore remains a claim made by Sahu and should not be treated as a proven fact. Like the allegations raised in the minister’s complaint, his claims will require examination and verification through relevant records and evidence.
Investigation to Focus on Evidence
The formation of the nine-member SIT marks a formal step towards investigating the case. The team is expected to examine the complaint, relevant documents, the audio recording cited by the minister and records relating to the companies in question. The investigation may also involve assessing the claims made by both parties against the available evidence.
At present, the minister has initiated legal action against her husband over a series of serious allegations, while Sahu has accused her of corruption. The SIT’s investigation is expected to establish what evidence supports the claims made by each side.
Until the investigation is completed and the relevant facts are verified, the allegations made by either party cannot be treated as established conclusions. The findings of the investigation will be crucial in determining the factual basis of the claims and the further course of legal action.
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