Uttarakhand Women and Child Welfare Minister Rekha Arya has filed a police complaint against her husband, Girdhari Lal Sahu, alleging domestic violence, threats to her life, and a conspiracy to kill her. She has also expressed concern for the safety of her minor children, according to the complaint submitted to the police.
Arya approached the Cantonment police station in Dehradun and sought the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) and legal action against her husband. Her complaint accuses Sahu, also known as Pappu Girdhari, of concealing his previous marriage, maintaining alleged relationships with other women, physically assaulting her, abusing her, and threatening to kill her.
In a video message, Arya said an audio recording had deeply shaken her and prompted her to approach the police to protect her children.
"Today, I want to tell you that this audio has shaken me to the core. It has raised questions about my relationship and the commitment in my married life. Is this what one gets for living with truth and honesty?" she said.
Arya said listening to the recording had forced her to take the painful decision to file a police complaint for the protection and safety of her children.
She also urged women, irrespective of their social standing, not to tolerate domestic abuse and instead speak out against it.
"Whether a woman is ordinary or prominent, she should not endure domestic abuse but should raise her voice against it. If you listen to the audio, you will find the answers to all the questions yourself," she said.
Arya added that she would continue to discharge her duties in accordance with the Constitution despite her personal distress. She said her home state had helped her reach her present position and expressed confidence that people would stand by her during this difficult time.
"I am in pain, but I have not forgotten my duty," she said.
In her complaint, Arya said that she married Sahu on July 6, 2004, according to Hindu customs and rituals. She identified herself as a member of a Scheduled Caste notified in Uttarakhand and alleged that her husband, a resident of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, does not belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe community.
Arya alleged that Sahu concealed his earlier marriage when they married, presenting himself as unmarried. She said she discovered several years later that he had already been married and had children from that marriage. By then, she said, they had children together, and she remained silent following advice from family members and out of concern for her children's future.
The minister further alleged that Sahu's behaviour towards her had changed in recent times and that she discovered his alleged relationships with other women.
According to the complaint, when she objected, he initially acknowledged his alleged wrongdoing and apologised both verbally and in writing. However, she claimed that he continued the alleged relationships despite those apologies.
Arya alleged that her objections led to physical assaults, verbal abuse and threats to kill her. She also accused Sahu of entering her government residence on several occasions and using derogatory caste-based slurs against her.
The complaint also accuses Sahu of forging Arya's signatures on documents submitted to companies to show that she had stepped down as a company director. Arya claimed that she had neither signed any such documents nor submitted a resignation.
A recent audio recording forms another central part of the complaint. Arya alleged that she received a recording in which Sahu was speaking to a woman and conspiring to kill her.
Citing the recording and the alleged threats, the minister said she feared for her own life as well as the safety of her minor children. She warned that her husband could carry out a serious incident at any time and urged the Cantonment police to register an FIR and initiate legal proceedings against him.
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