A case has been filed at the Kathmandu District Court against five people on the charge of abetment to suicide in connection with the death of TikTok influencer Aanchal Nath. The case was filed based on an investigation by the Kathmandu District Police Range.

Those accused are Sanju BK, 26; Urmila BK, also known as Anu; Saraswati Bhandari, alias Saru; Rajesh Budha, 22; and Laxmi Budha. Police said only Sanju has been arrested, while the others have been charged as absconding defendants.

Aanchal, who had appeared in a few music videos and was active in modelling, had moved to Kathmandu two years ago to study the Japanese language and was living in a rented room in Bhaktapur.

According to a complaint filed by her brother-in-law, Prakashnath Yogi, Aanchal had met Sanju through TikTok, but their relationship had recently turned sour. The complaint also stated that Sanju’s wife, Urmila, had aggravated the dispute.

The complaint stated that the group had gathered at Sanju’s garage on October 25, where they allegedly abused and threatened Aanchal during an argument.

Police said Aanchal poured petrol on herself and set herself on fire. Sanju took her to Kathmandu Medical College in Sinamangal, where she died during treatment.

In his statement to the police, Sanju denied threatening Aanchal and claimed he tried to save her. “When I saw the fire, I tried to put it out with my jacket, then with water and a blanket, before taking her to the hospital,” he said.

Under Section 185 of the Criminal Code, 2017, anyone found guilty of abetting suicide faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to Rs50,000.