Lilabalabh Adhikari, the former Minister of Home Affairs and Law in Koshi Province, has landed behind bars on human trafficking charges. Police sources report that a team under Morang SP Narayan Prasad Chimariya apprehended Adhikari in Biratnagar on Sunday morning, dispatching him to Kathmandu via air later in the day.

Adhikari, elected a member of the Provincial Assembly for Constituency (B) from Morang district constituency no 2 on a CPN-UML ticket, stands accused of involvement in human smuggling during a visit to Japan. He faces charges of producing fake documents to facilitate the travel of three individuals—Dawa Sherpa (36) and Janak Rai of Khotang, and Kanchan Devkota (22) of Rasuwa—to Japan along with him after receiving Rs 1m each from the three individuals in exchange for illegally facilitating their travel to Japan. The four, including Adhikari, were deported from Tokyo Airport on Oct 30. Morang district police office has confirmed Adhikari’s arrest.

In the wake of these allegations, Adhikari has resigned his position—as a minister and leader of the UML’s parliamentary party at the provincial assembly. In response to the charges, the UML has suspended Adhikari from all party responsibilities.