Police arrested Artharaj Koirala, 59, of Barahachhetra Municipality–7, on August 5 for sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl. The bench of District Court Judge Mukesh Upadhyaya had convicted him on July 16, 2025, and sentenced him to two years of imprisonment, a fine of Rs. 25,000, and ordered him to pay Rs. 200,000 as compensation to the victim.
As the District Court’s verdict allowed Koirala the option to appeal, he had been contesting the case without serving his sentence. On May 7, 2025, the police had filed a case against Koirala at the District Court under Section 6 of the Children’s Act, 2018 through the District Government Attorney’s Office. Subsequently, the District Court Judge Prakash Raut, on 8 May, had ordered a bail amount of Rs 100,000. The accused was released on the same day after posting the bail.
DSP Yogaraj Khatiwada of the District Police Office, Sunsari, stated that Koirala has been kept at the Area Police Office, Mahendranagar, Sunsari since 5 August. He further informed that they are preparing to present Koirala in the District Court on 6 August .
The aggrieved party had filed a complaint against the accused at the Area Police Office, Mahendranagar on 21 April 2025, accusing him of sexually abusing the minor on 20 April 2025. Following the complaint, the accused had absconded, but the police arrested him on 7 May 2025. The health examination of the victim was conducted at the District Hospital on 21 April.