Rastriya Swatantra Party Leader Balen Shah Appears in Supreme Court for Contempt Case, Returns to Campaign Trail

Kathmandu. Senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Balendra Shah (Balen), returned to his election campaign on Thursday after receiving his date at the Supreme Court for a contempt of court case.

An employee at the case filing section stated that Balen, who is a candidate for the House of Representatives election from Jhapa Constituency No. 5, returned after receiving his date on Thursday afternoon.

According to senior advocate Yadunath Khanal, Balen arrived at the Supreme Court around 2 PM accompanied by a security guard. "He took off his jacket, did not speak to anyone, went straight to the new building of the Supreme Court, received his date, and left," senior advocate Khanal told Ratopati. "We were all lawyers sitting there, and he left after staying for about 10 minutes."

Three years ago, Balen was angered after the Patan High Court issued an interim order against the Metropolitan City, directing cinema hall operators not to stop screening Hindi films. Advocate Barsha Kumari Jha had filed a contempt of court case against Balen, alleging that he made objectionable accusations on social media linking the court and the government with the neighboring friendly nation, India.

In this case, the joint bench of Supreme Court Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Hari Phuyal refused Balen's request to appoint a representative for the date. Balen himself appeared at the Supreme Court because the court had ordered his personal presence for the case date.

At that time, Balen had written on social media: "When it comes to the sovereignty and independence of the country, I will not abide by any law or court. Once the film writer says that Nepal was under India, their intentions become clear. The fact that the Nepal government called this a stunt and the court allowed the film to run means that Nepal was under India, and it is understood that the court and the government are slaves to India. I am ready to face any punishment for this, but the film will not run and will not be allowed to run."