Aarti Sah death case: Husband arrested in Janakpur

JANAKPURDHAM: Aarti Sah’s husband, Motibabu Sah, was arrested by the police in Janakpur on Monday, as confirmed by District Police Office Dhanusha Police Inspector Upendra Kharel.

Motibabu was taken into custody from a local hotel, and he is slated to appear in the district court in Dhanusha.

Following the earlier court order, he will be remanded in custody after the court proceedings.

The arrest is related to the death of Aarti, Motibabu’s wife, for which the Supreme Court issued an order on December 7, directing his imprisonment.

Justices Nahakul Subedi and Tilprasad Shrestha presided over the bench that mandated his incarceration.

Aarti was discovered lifeless in her residence in Janakpurdham sub-metropolis-9 Thapachowk on May 22.

Initially reported as a suicide by the family, herrelatives alleged foul play, accusing Motibabu Sah of murder.

Subsequently, the police took action, arresting Aarti’s husband and her father-in-law, Madanmohan Byahut Sudi, following a complaint filed by her relatives.

The District Public Prosecutor’s Office Dhanusha initiated a death case against them in the District Court Dhanusha on June 16.

After a pre-trial hearing on June 20, the district court ordered the remand in custody of Aarti’s husband and father-in-law.

However, the Janakpurdham High Court later released them, citing insufficient immediate evidence to warrant continued custody

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court deliberated on the appeal petition lodged by the District Public Prosecutor’s Office, contesting the High Court’s earlier decision.

Following the hearing, on December 7, the Supreme Court affirmed the High Court’s directive to release Madanmohan Bayahut Sudi, the father-in-law.

In contrast, the court mandated the incarceration of Aarti’s husband, Motibabu.

Expressing their anguish and seeking justice, Aarti’s mother, father, sister, brother, and uncle undertook a three-month-long dharna at Maitigharmandal in Kathmandu.

Their demand was clear – they sought decisive action against those implicated in their daughter’s murder.