Lumbini Province Assembly member Rekha Sharma has been arrested. The CPN-UML lawmaker was detained from Dhumbharahi in Kathmandu on Sunday night.

She was arrested by a team deployed from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, said office chief Senior Superintendent of Police Santosh Khadka.

Sharma has been accused of violating child protection laws by keeping a minor as a domestic worker. In the past, the child was rescued from her residence by Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

Then Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, now the prime minister, posted on Facebook on February 11, 2025, referring to the case and expressing concern over the lack of legal action against the alleged perpetrator.

He had also urged children to focus on education and awareness to help address discrimination and such offences in society.