Appeals Office Overturns Decision, Files Case Against Man Accused of Threatening to Burn Singha Durbar

The High Government Attorney's Office in Patan has decided to file a case against the accused Mahendra Gautam, who allegedly made statements about burning Singha Durbar. This decision overturns the earlier decision by the District Government Attorney's Office in Kathmandu not to prosecute Gautam.

The District Government Attorney's Office in Kathmandu had previously decided not to proceed with a case against the 36-year-old Gautam, a resident of Anamnagar, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-29, originally from Khairahani Municipality-9, Chitwan. Patan's Additional Attorney General, Binda Dhami Rawal, stated that the decision not to prosecute was overturned and a case would be filed. "We decided on Falgun 13 to overturn the district's decision and proceed with the case," Additional Attorney General Dhami told Ratopati. "We decided to file the case based on the video evidence where Gautam stated, 'I burned Singha Durbar.'" She added, "We have already sent the file to the district to proceed with the case as per the decision."

In a video circulating on social media, Gautam had said, "We broke the gate of Singha Durbar, entered, and set fire to the Ministry of Home Affairs and all the offices." The district government attorney's claim was that although he spoke this way, the video did not show him actually committing arson.

The District Government Attorney's Office in Kathmandu had claimed that the video evidence was insufficient to prosecute Gautam. That decision faced widespread criticism. After the arson attack on government offices including Singha Durbar on Bhadra 24, Gautam was arrested on Magh 22, nearly five months after the incident. However, as the Kathmandu District Government Attorney's Office decided not to file a case, the police were instructed on Falgun 8 to release him on personal bail.

Government Prosecutor Acquits Accused of Burning Singha Durbar