Medical Businessman Durga Prasai Arrested by Police for Alleged Election Code Violation

Medical businessman Durga Prasai is currently in police custody. Police arrested him from Chhalkhel on Friday and are investigating him. The police cyber bureau has used his statements regarding the election as the 'basis' for the investigation. Prasai is accused of violating the election code of conduct through electronic means.

Cyber Bureau SP Deepakraj Awasthi told Ratopati that the investigation was initiated based on a letter sent by the Election Commission. He stated, "We will take custody today under the offense mentioned in the Electronic Transactions Act and proceed with further investigation."

It has been revealed that Durga Prasai, coordinator of the Campaign to Save the Nation, Nationality, Religion, Culture, and Citizens, met with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli before his arrest. According to a high-ranking security official, Prasai and Oli met in Bhaktapur on Magh 22.

After meeting with Oli, Prasai was heading to Parsa to hold a program in Birgunj. Security agencies briefed interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki based on intelligence that Prasai was about to start a campaign to disrupt the election scheduled for Falgun 21 after holding the program in Birgunj. A high-ranking Nepal Police official said, "Following that, the decision was made to arrest Prasai."

UML Chairman Oli is a candidate for the House of Representatives from Jhapa-5. He is competing against Balendra Shah (Balen), a senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and former Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

Previously, Durga Prasai, who was arrested from Pokhara on Magh 5, was released on bail. Kathmandu Police had questioned him and released him on charges against public peace. He had publicly stated that the faction led by Gagan Thapa, elected as the President from the Nepali Congress's special general convention, had secured official recognition by submitting funds to the Election Commission.

On Mangsir 4, 2081, after Prasai publicly accused then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of having investments in a telecom company in Cambodia, Prasai was arrested under Oli's orders. At that time, he held a press conference claiming he paid 1 crore to obtain documents allegedly showing Oli's investment. Although they had a good relationship previously, Prasai was resentful towards Oli after being arrested on his orders. However, questions are now being raised about why he met with Oli now.

The police had filed a case against him related to document forgery for preparing and uploading fake documents against Oli on social media. At that time, police investigated Prasai under Oli's orders for cybercrime, forgery, as well as cases related to criminal gain, organized crime, and money laundering.