KATHMANDU, Feb 25: Roshani Shahi, who was absent from office for nearly four months after complaining to police of rape attempt against her by then speaker of the lower house of parliament Krishna Bahadur Mahara, returned to work on Sunday.
Shahi, a nurse at the health department of the parliament secretariat, has been absent from work since October 1, a day after calling in the police and complaining about attempted rape by Mahara.
Her written complaint to the police not only led to Mahara’s resignation as speaker but also saw him behind bars for nearly four months.
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Mahara, an influential leader of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), was released from Dillibazar jail last Monday after being acquitted by Kathmandu District Court. The court said it decided to acquit him as Shahi had retracted her accusation.
“I was unable to attend office because I felt distraught over the whole affair,” Shahi told Republica on Monday. “But all the office staff and members of parliament made me feel comfortable when I returned to office yesterday.”
Although Shahi was absent from work without prior approval of leave, the parliament secretariat has subsequently approved her leave, citing her difficult situation.
“We have approved the leave against her accumulated leave,” said Krishna Hari Khadka, head of administrative division at the parliament secretariat.
According to the Nepal Health Service Act, continuous absence from work for 90 days without sanctioned leave could result in dismissal from service.
Adhiraj Rai of the administration division said that Shahi was allowed to return to work in her previous position as she has cleared her leave issue.
Meanwhile, Mahara has not returned to parliament, of which he is still a member, even a week after his release from jail.
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