KATHMANDU: Lilabalabh Adhikari, the former Minister of Home Affairs and Law in Koshi Province, has been arrested on human trafficking charges.

Police sources report that Adhikari was apprehended in Biratnagar on Sunday morning and will be brought to Kathmandu.

A Morang District Police official confirmed that, following a summons from the District Police Complex in Kathmandu, arrangements were made for his transport by plane.

Adhikari, a member of the Provincial Assembly for Constituency (B) in Morang District, was elected as a representative from the Provincial Assembly Constituency No. 2 on behalf of the CPN-UML.

The former minister is accused of involvement in human smuggling during a visit to Japan.

Following the allegations, he resigned from his position as both minister and leader of the party’s parliamentary group.

In response to the charges, the UML has suspended Adhikari from all party responsibilities.