Nepal:Lower House Speaker Krishna Bahadur resigns over rape allegation

The Lower House speaker of Nepal, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, has resigned on October 1 over allegations of sexually assaulting a woman working in the Federal Parliament Secretariat. According to the official spokesperson, the Speaker, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, tendered his resignation letter to Deputy Speaker Shivamaya Tumbahamphe. The victim accused Mahara of allegedly raping her in her rented flat in Tinkune, Kathmandu on September 29, when her husband was away from home. She was quoted saying she and her husband have known him personally for some time. She added that Mahara came to her place several times when her husband used to be at home. But on Sunday at around 8 pm, he came to her flat in an intoxicated state when her husband was not at home and allegedly sexually assaulted her.

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The Personal Secretariat of the House Speaker denied the rape allegations

A formal complaint is yet to be filed with the police. The Personal Secretariat of the House Speaker denied the rape allegations. Mahara's Press Secretary, Dilli Malla released a statement saying the allegations are baseless and deceptive. He said there is no evidence over these false claims that requested all not to get driven by the illusion. He claimed that the allegations against the speaker is an attempt to defame him and is driven by revenge.

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An online news portal uploaded photos and videos of the victim

An online news portal had reported the incident on Monday and uploaded the photos and videos of the victim which allegedly showed the victim being physically assaulted. The portal also uploaded the pictures of broken spectacles purportedly belonging to Mahara, and a bottle of alcohol allegedly brought by him. According to the reports, the spokesperson of the ruling party, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, said it was decided in a secretariat meeting that Mahara should step down from his position to facilitate probe against him.

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