KATHMANDU: Rape-accused beauty pageant organizer Manoj Pandey has been arrested by police.

A team from Valley Crime Investigation Office arrested Pandey on Saturday.

A young woman revealed on Wednesday via social media that she had been raped at a hotel by one of the event organizers while participating in the Miss Global International pageant held eight years ago and continued the exploitation for long since then.

Follow the issue coming to surface, enraged youths held demonstrations demanding justice for the victim. Lawmakers had also raised the issue in the parliament on Thursday following which Speaker Agni Sapkota directed the government to investigate.

The Nepal Police Headquarters formed a five-member committee under the direction of Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand to investigate the incident and take necessary action.

Senior Superintendent of Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar-led team had also reached the victim’s house on Friday.

Pandey, who also operates an educational consultancy and said to be the perpetrator, was arrested today.

Demonstrations are taking place across major cities, including the capital, demanding justice for the girl and action against the perpetrator.