KATHMANDU, April 8: Nepal Police has dispatched a team led by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Umesh Joshi to Janakpur to investigate the death of Aarti Sah.

Nepal Police Central Spokesperson Bhim Dhakal said that a five-member team was sent to Janakpur under the leadership of DIG Joshi, who is working at the National Police Training Institute.

Dhakal said that along with Joshi, Superintendent of Police (SP) Hobindra Bogati, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jageshwar Bhandari, Inspector Shanta Lama and five others working in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) have reached Janakpur and started investigating the incident.

On March 13, there was an agreement between the Ministry of Home Affairs and Aarati’s family to re-investigate the case. Accordingly, the new police team has been sent to Janakpur. Nepal Police Spokesman Dhakal said that the team will conduct an investigation and if there is any evidence, the case should be re-trialed, additional prosecution may also be initiated.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane called the Ministry of Home Affairs for talks with the victim’s family. Meanwhile, it was agreed to give the CIB the responsibility of further investigation by considering the pending case in the court and submitting the additional evidence to the court.

According to the agreement, the investigation team is supposed to coordinate with the family and investigate 4 aspects of the case within 45 days of starting the work. It was said that the shortcomings made while investigating the case related to a murder will be probed and the alleged torture and mistreatment of Aarati’s family by the police would also be investigated. It is also mentioned in the agreement that re-prosecution will be conducted according to the law based on the evidence obtained.

Aarti Sah was found dead in her residence in Janakpurdham Sub-metropolis-9, Thapa Chowk, on May 21 2023. After being taken to Kavya Hospital in Janakpurdham, the family informed the police that Aarti had committed suicide. After that, the police took custody of the body and started an investigation.

She was married to Motibabu Sah two years before the incident. According to the claim of the Aarati’s maternal home side, her husband and his family were given Rs 2.5 million along with dowry in the marriage.

However, relatives alleged that Aarti Sah was subjected to torture at home due to the perceived lack of dowry for several months which, they believe led to her death.

In this case, the police arrested Aarati’s husband Motibabu Sah and father-in-law Madanmohan Byahut Sudi and started investigating the crime related to murder. The District Court Dhanusa sent them to jail on June 20. 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. Then, Motibabu was arrested in accordance with the Supreme Court's order.

 
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