The District Court sentenced 27-year-old Sonu Raidas, also known as Sonu Harijan of Marchabari Rural Municipality–1, to three years and six months imprisonment, and 22-year-old Ritika Lodh to one year imprisonment for the offense of child marriage involving a 17-year-old girl. The bench of District Court Judge Ashok Kumar Basnet, on July 11, 2025, found the accused Harijan guilty and sentenced him to three years and six months imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 30,000. Another accused, Ritika Lodh, was sentenced to one year imprisonment and fined Rs. 10,000, according to Court Information Officer Padam Aryal.
The accused was reported to have married the a minor, on September 2, 2024. With the support of the victim’s mother, a complaint was filed at the Area Police Office, Marchabari, on September 5. The victim underwent a health examination on the same day at Lumbini Provincial Hospital, Butwal. Police had arrested the accused from his residence on September 5.