Rabin Shrestha, former head of adoptions at Bal Mandir, and Rabin Chalise, a former student who ran a Youth Club at the shelter, are accused of sexually exploiting the minors there. The duo has been in police custody since June 17. SSP Uttam Karki, chief of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), said the case file includes medical test reports and victims’ statements which suggest the girls were raped.

“The attorney’s office will first study the case file and provide inputs prior to filing a charge sheet in the district court. This may require another two days,” said Karki. The CIB is running out of time to file a case in the court as it is authorised to detain arrestees only for 25 days.

Child rights activists from Action for Child Rights International-Nepal had presented testimonies of the abused to the CIB. In the complaint, they said Shrestha and Chalise raped and molested the children, two of them autistic, repeatedly. No one from the organisation was immediately available for comments. Almost one and a half years ago, a visually impaired girl adopted by a foreigner, had complained of similar sexual harassment by Shrestha. When her mother tried to file a case, she was barred citing the 35-day statute of limitations.

Following the incident, Forum for Women, Law and Development has filed a case in Supreme Court seeking a change in the 35-day time limit and action against Shrestha in the case.