Rup Narayan Rai, a former chairman of the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation, was arrested on the charges of sexually assaulting a minor girl after he surrendered before South Sikkim police on Monday.

Rai, 53, had been absconding since Friday night after a family member of the victim had lodged a complaint of sexual assault against Rai at the Melli police station. The police had launched a search for Rai in South Sikkim.

Rai is alleged to have assaulted the 13-year-old at his house in Sadam village on several occasions. The girl from a remote village in the South Sikkim had been staying with his family for the past few months to pursue her education.

The police have said Rai has been booked under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. “He will be produced in a court in Namchi (South Sikkim) in 24 hours,” said Prawin Gurung, the deputy inspector general of police, Range.

The Sikkim Democratic Front, under whose government Rai had served as the STDC chairman, suspended him until the completion of the process of law.