KATHMANDU, Dec 25: Motibabu Sah, the husband of Aarti Sah, has been apprehended in connection with the Aarti Sah death case. Dhanusha police took Motibabu into custody from Sita Chowk in Janakpur this morning.
According to Dhanusha Police Inspector Upendra Kharel, Motibabu was arrested at Sagun Galaxy Hotel in Janakpurdham Ward 1. Inspector Kharel mentioned that Motibabu would be presented before the court after the public holiday.
On December 6, 2023, the bench of Supreme Court Justices Nahakul Subedi and Til Prasad Shrestha issued an order for Aarti's husband to be sent to prison.
SC orders to send Aarti Shah's husband Motibabu Shah to jail
Aarti was found dead in her residence in Janakpurdham Sub-metropolis-9 Thapachowk on May 21. While the family reported it as a suicide, the maternal side alleged foul play, leading to the arrest of Aarti's husband Motibabu Sah and father-in-law Madanmohan Byahut Sudi after a complaint was filed.
The District Government Attorney Office, Dhanusha, filed a death case against them in the District Court Dhanusha on June 16. Following a pre-trial hearing on June 20, the district court ordered the remand of Aarti's husband and father-in-law. However, the Janakpurdham High Court released them, citing no immediate need for custody based on the evidence.
On December 6, the Supreme Court heard the writ petition filed by the District Government Attorney Office against the High Court's order. The Supreme Court upheld the order to release the father-in-law, Madanmohan Bayahut Sudi, while directing the imprisonment of Aarti's husband, Motibabu. Subsequently, Motibabu was arrested in accordance with the Supreme Court's order.
For about three months, Aarti's mother, father, sister, brother-in-law, and others have been staging protests at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu, demanding justice for Aarati, alleging that she was subjected to torture by her husband and in-laws on the pretext of dowry, which they believe led to her death.
Aarti and Motibabu were married on July 13, 2020. Aarati’s maternal side contends that Aarti faced severe mistreatment from her husband and in-laws related to dowry, attributing it as a contributing factor to her demise.
