Rekha Arya Files FIR Against Husband: Assault, Forgery And Alleged Murder Plot Spark Controversy
Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya filed an FIR against her husband, Girdhari Lal Sahu, on 15 October 2026, following allegations of domestic abuse and threats to her safety. The case was registered at Garhi Cantt police station in Dehradun. According to reports, her complaint accused Sahu, also known as Pappu Girdhari, of physical assault, cheating, forgery and conspiring to kill her.
A central allegation concerns the circumstances of their marriage. Arya stated in her complaint that the couple married in Bareilly on 6 July 2004, and alleged that Sahu had presented himself as unmarried despite already having a wife and children. She said she discovered this later but remained silent following advice from family members and concern for their children’s future.
Arya further alleged that her husband maintained relationships with other women and subjected her to assault, verbal abuse and death threats when she objected. Her complaint also included allegations of caste-based abuse. Separately, she accused him of forging her signature and using documents to show her removal from directorship positions in companies, saying she had neither signed those documents nor submitted a resignation.
The dispute became public when Arya shared an emotional video statement and purported audio recordings on social media. She alleged that a recording contained a conversation about a plot to kill her and said concern for her children prompted her to approach police. In her public appeal, she urged women experiencing domestic abuse to raise their voices and seek help, regardless of their position or public standing.
Following her public statement, NDTV reported that Arya was admitted to Krishna Medical Centre in Dehradun for medical tests. As of 16 October 2026, the FIR represented allegations requiring investigation, rather than a judicial finding of guilt. The purported recordings should likewise be described as material cited by Arya in support of her complaint, rather than conclusive proof of the accusations.
Rekha Arya is the Cabinet Minister for Sports & Youth Welfare in the Government of Uttarakhand, a portfolio she has held since 2022 alongside Women & Child Development and Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs. A three time MLA from the Someshwar constituency in Almora district, she played a central role in organising the 38th National Games of India (2025), hosted in Uttarakhand.
From the Kosi Valley to the Cabinet: The Rekha Arya Story
Rekha Arya is an Indian politician from Uttarakhand who currently serves as the state's Cabinet Minister for Sports & Youth Welfare, in addition to holding the Women & Child Development and Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs portfolios in the government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. A three time MLA from the Someshwar assembly constituency in Almora district, she is currently the only woman minister in the Uttarakhand cabinet.
As Sports Minister, she played a lead role in Uttarakhand's preparations to host the 38th National Games of India in early 2025, overseeing everything from infrastructure readiness to athlete welfare initiatives across the state.
Early Life: Roots in the Kosi Valley
Rekha Arya was born on 15 December 1978 in Sunadi Pokhri village, in the Someshwar tehsil of Almora district, nestled in the Kosi river valley of Uttarakhand, into a middle class family. Her father served in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), while her mother was a homemaker; one of her two brothers also served in the CRPF and the other in the Indian Army.
Due to her father's postings, much of her early schooling took place in Madhya Pradesh, though the family would return to their native village during school holidays, giving her a upbringing shaped by both the plains and the hills of Uttarakhand. She went on to complete her M.Com., followed by a B.Ed. degree from Kumaon University, Nainital, in 2002.
She is married to Girdhari Lal Sahu, who comes from a political and business background, and the couple have one daughter and two sons.
Political Beginnings: From Zila Panchayat to the Assembly
Arya's political career began at the grassroots level in 2003, when she contested and won the Zila Panchayat (District Panchayat) election in Almora, going on to become its chairperson. In 2012, after being denied a Congress ticket, she contested the Someshwar assembly seat as an independent candidate. She lost the election but polled over 15,000 votes, a result that signalled her strong grassroots support.
Her breakthrough came in 2014, when she won a historic victory in the Someshwar assembly bye election on a Congress ticket, becoming an MLA for the first time. Ahead of the 2017 assembly election, she switched her allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which fielded her from the same Someshwar seat a decision that paid off as she won comfortably, defeating Congress's Rajendra Barakoti.
Election Record: Three Time MLA from Someshwar
Rekha Arya has contested the Someshwar assembly seat five times since 2012, winning three consecutive elections since her first victory in 2014.
| Year | Election | Party | Result | Key Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Someshwar Assembly Election | Independent | Lost (15,000+ votes polled) | - |
| 2014 | Someshwar Bye-Election | Indian National Congress | Won - First-time MLA | Mohan Ram Arya (BJP) |
| 2017 | Someshwar Assembly Election | Bharatiya Janata Party | Won | Rajendra Barakoti (INC) |
| 2022 | Someshwar Assembly Election | Bharatiya Janata Party | Won (26,161 votes) | Rajendra Barakoti (INC) |
Cabinet Minister: A Multi Portfolio Role
Following her 2022 re-election, Rekha Arya was inducted into Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's cabinet and entrusted with three key portfolios: Women & Child Development, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, and Sports & Youth Welfare. She has continued to hold these responsibilities through subsequent cabinet reshuffles, making her one of the more consistently placed ministers in the Dhami government and the only woman minister in the state cabinet.
Rekha Arya as Sports Minister: Leading Uttarakhand's National Games
As Sports & Youth Welfare Minister, Rekha Arya's most high profile responsibility has been overseeing Uttarakhand's preparations to host the 38th National Games of India in 2025. When the Indian Olympic Association entrusted the state with hosting duties, Arya led coordination between the Uttarakhand Sports Department, the Uttarakhand Olympic Association, and various sports federations to finalise dates, infrastructure, and logistics.
The Games, held from 28 January to 14 February 2025 and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, featured 32 core disciplines alongside four demonstration sports Yogasana, Mallakhamb, Rafting, and Kalaripayattu reflecting the state's blend of tradition and modern sporting ambition. Arya represented the state government at the opening ceremony alongside the Chief Minister, the Governor, and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
Key Sports Initiatives and Programmes
Beyond hosting the National Games, Arya has driven several grassroots and athlete welfare initiatives during her tenure as Sports Minister.
- Khel Mahakumbh: Inaugurated alongside CM Dhami ahead of the National Games, bringing together roughly 12,000 athletes across the state in disciplines including Mallakhamb, Pitthu, and Murga Jhapat, with cash rewards announced for record breaking performances.
- 4% Sports Reservation: Backed the state government's commitment to extending a 4% sports quota benefit to medal winners at events like the Khel Mahakumbh.
- National Sports Promotion Torch Relay: Flagged off a month long torch relay from Haldwani to Dehradun ahead of the National Games, featuring marathons, cycling rallies, and school level sporting events across every district.
- Anti Doping Awareness: Inaugurated athlete awareness workshops with the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) to educate young athletes on banned substances.
Political Milestones
Zila Panchayat Chairperson
Elected District Panchayat member, Almora
First-Time MLA
Historic bye election win, Someshwar
National Games Host
Led Sports Ministry during 38th National Games
Legacy: A Voice for Uttarakhand's Athletes
Rekha Arya's political journey, from a district panchayat seat to a multi portfolio cabinet role, reflects a steady rise built on grassroots politics and consistent electoral performance in her home constituency.
She is widely recognised as:
- The sole woman minister in the Uttarakhand cabinet, holding three significant portfolios simultaneously
- The Sports Minister who led the state's charge in successfully hosting the 38th National Games of India
- A three time MLA from Someshwar with a consistent grassroots political base in Almora district
- An advocate for athlete welfare, sports infrastructure, and anti doping awareness across Uttarakhand
As Uttarakhand continues to build on the momentum of the 2025 National Games, Rekha Arya's role as Sports Minister remains central to the state's efforts to expand opportunities for its young athletes.