KATHMANDU, Oct 6: Police have arrested immediate past speaker of the House of Representatives on Sunday, hours after Kathmandu District Court permitted the police administration to launch probe an investigation over alleged sexual harassment accusations against him.
A team of Police from the Metropolitan Police Kathmandu arrested Mahara from his official residence at Baluwatar on Sunday evening, DIG Shailesh Thapa confirmed Republica Online.
Roshani Shahi, a female staffer at the Federal Parliament had filed an FIR against Mahara accusing him of raping and sexually harassing her on Friday last week. She filed FIR against Mahara at Metropolitan Police Circle, New Baneshwor accusing him of sexually harassing her.
House Speaker Mahara resigns amid sexual harassment accusations
Acting on her complaint, police moved the court to get permission for taking Mahara into custody. Amid sexual harassment allegations Mahara stepped down from his post earlier last week.
A single bench of district Judge Brajesh Pyakurel on Sunday allowed police to arrest Mahara and launch probe into the case.
Amid demands to arrest Mahara from various quarters including the main opposition Nepali Congress, National Human Rights Commission and human rights activists, the police are all set to launch the investigation into the high-profile rape case.
Talking to Republica Online on Sunday evening, Kathmandu Police Chief SSP Uttam Raj Subedi said that they will launch probe into the case as per the existing criminal laws.
