A petition has been moved before the Jamshedpur Civil Court in Jharkhand against Girdhari Lal Sahu, the spouse of the sitting MLA from Uttarakhand’s Someshwar Assembly segment, over alleged offensive and demeaning comments directed at women from Bihar.
Pradeep Kumar Singh, a Jamshedpur-based advocate has said in the petition that a video clip began circulating on social and electronic media on January 3, 2026, purportedly showing the accused addressing a public gathering.
In the footage, Sahu is allegedly heard claiming that marriages involving women from Bihar could be arranged for amounts ranging between ₹20,000 and ₹25,000.
The remarks triggered widespread outrage as the video rapidly went viral across multiple digital platforms.
The complainant has contended that the statement reduces women to tradable objects, severely damaging their dignity, respect and societal status.
It has been argued that such assertions promote a discriminatory attitude towards women and trivialise practices resembling the commercialisation of marriage, which runs contrary to societal ethics and laws enacted to curb human trafficking.
The petition further notes that the accused holds proximity to public life, and as such, is expected to demonstrate greater accountability and sensitivity in public discourse.
The complainant has also claimed that the alleged remarks caused him severe mental distress and constitute an infringement of the fundamental rights to equality and dignity enshrined under Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution.
The court has been urged to take cognisance of the matter under appropriate provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. A request has also been made to summon the accused and initiate due legal proceedings. The Jamshedpur Civil Court is currently examining the complaint.
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