Banking Khabar / Rekha Kumari Sharma, a member of the Lumbini Provincial Assembly, was taken into custody in Kathmandu on Monday morning over accusations of employing a minor as a domestic worker. She was arrested from Dhumbarahi by a team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office.
The arrest was made despite a prior recommendation from the District Government Attorney’s Office in Kathmandu not to pursue charges. That case file had already been forwarded through the High Government Attorney’s Office to the Office of the Attorney General.
The issue came to light after authorities rescued a minor from Sharma’s residence. Officials from the metropolitan police, ward representatives, and Nepal Police were present during the operation and formally documented the incident. The girl, who had reportedly been working at the house for six years, alleged that she was physically abused.
In her statement, she claimed that members of the household, including Sharma’s family, beat her with hands and pipes and forced her to perform various household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and watering plants. She also said she was not allowed to contact her family or return home, even during major festivals like Dashain.
Following signs of abuse, Kathmandu Metropolitan City filed a complaint with the police. The court also recorded the minor’s testimony confidentially while reviewing the case documents.
