Contempt of court petition filed against RSP leaders

Kathmandu, November 14 — A contempt of court petition has been filed against Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leaders in the Supreme Court, alleging that an agitation was orchestrated to disrupt the court's proceedings in the ongoing investigation into the embezzlement of cooperative funds involving RSP President, Rabi Lamichhane.

Advocate Anupam Bhattarai filed the petition, claiming that actions such as making statements, staging protests, and inciting the public to obstruct the judicial process were aimed at pressuring the court during the ongoing investigation. The petition has been scheduled for hearing on November 18.

Initially, the Supreme Court administration rejected the petition and referred it back for review on October 30. After the court registrar, Achyut Kuinkel, referred it, Bhattarai filed a new petition on November 6, requesting reconsideration. Following the first hearing, the bench led by Justice Sharma dismissed the referral and registered the case.

In the contempt petition, it is claimed that senior members of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party, including Vice President Swarnim Wagle, Spokesperson Manish Jha, MPs Sumana Shrestha, Birajbhakta Marhjan, Toshima Karki, and Sobita Gautam, mocked the judicial process by holding rallies, spreading false and baseless information about the judiciary, and creating confusion about the independent judiciary among the public.