Government Completes 100 Days Amidst High-Profile Arrests and Judicial Scrutiny

Kathmandu. The government led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is completing 100 days. The government led by Balendra (Balen) Shah was formed on Chaitra 13, 2082 BS.

During this period, Sudhan Gurung is the only minister who succeeded in returning to the same responsibility within a few weeks of being removed from his ministerial duties.

Sudhan Gurung, a leader of the Gen Z movement, first took oath as the Home Minister on Chaitra 13. However, after being embroiled in controversy, he was forced to resign within a few weeks.

Upon re-entering the Home Ministry for the second time on Jestha 26, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung warned in a style, 'Now every file will be opened'.

Taking charge, he also made another decision – to study the investigation reports of the Narayanhiti massacre and proceed with further investigation.

The Narayanhiti massacre that occurred on Jestha 19, 2058 BS, came into discussion after a long time for re-investigation, but the home administration has not yet taken any steps in this regard.

The Home Ministry is currently working to expedite the old files in the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the police. Minister Gurung had directed the Bureau to form a special team to investigate heinous, economic, and organized crimes.

Reviewing old files, the Bureau arrested former President of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Karma Chhiring Sherpa on Ashar 12.

Sherpa, arrested on charges of embezzling 8 crore 78 lakh 30 thousand rupees from Tungram International Academy operating in Hattigaunda, has now been released on 'bail'. The CIB is investigating Sherpa for fraud and criminal breach of trust.

It has been found that Sherpa purchased land in the name of Yak Developers Pvt. Ltd. in Budhanilkantha with funds from the school.

Questions were raised about businessman Deepak Bhatta's purchase of shares in Liberty Micro Insurance and Star Micro Insurance, leading to an investigation into Home Minister Gurung. Gurung, who was removed from the ministry during the investigation, returned to the Home Ministry after 48 days. During that period, the Home Ministry was kept under Prime Minister Shah himself.

As the government completed 100 days, the home administration initiated a series of high-profile arrests. The series of arrests of high-ranking officials began with former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

Police arrested Oli and Lekhak from Bhaktapur on Chaitra 14 on charges of suppressing the Gen Z movement on Bhadra 23 and 24. Supreme Court Justices Binod Sharma and Sunil Kumar Pokharel ordered their release from custody after Chaitra 25.

As per the court's order, both were released on Chaitra 26. The District Police Range Kathmandu has been investigating Oli and Lekhak based on the recommendations of the Gauribahadur Karki Commission regarding the Gen Z movement. Oli was Prime Minister and Lekhak was Home Minister when teenagers died from police gunfire in Baneshwor during the Gen Z protests.

Although it was not within his ministry's jurisdiction, Home Minister Gurung adopted a policy of arresting individuals who should be investigated by the Department of Money Laundering and handing them over to the department. Under the direction of Home Minister Gurung, high-profile individuals were also arrested for money laundering offenses.

Former Minister Deepak Khadka was arrested on Chaitra 15, 2082 BS. Although the investigation is not yet complete, Khadka has been released by court order.

Former Home Secretary Chandi Prasad Shrestha stated that action must be taken to bring about good governance and peace. He said, 'Danda must be used to bring discipline, but one must also be disciplined.'

Businessman Deepak Bhatta was arrested by the police on Chaitra 19 from Naxal. Subsequently, Shankar Group Chairman Shankar Lal Agarwal and his son Sulabh Agarwal were arrested. Bhatta and Sulabh Agarwal are currently in Dillibazar Jail for pre-trial detention by order of the Special Court.

Former Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Chhavi Rizal, who was arrested on the orders of the Home Ministry leadership, was released on 'bail'. Rizal was arrested on Chaitra 17, 2082 BS.

CPN-UML Province Committee member Karna Bahadur Malla was arrested on Chaitra 14, 2082 BS. Malla, also a former MP, was arrested on charges of rape. A young woman from Mugu filed a rape complaint against Malla at the District Police Range Lalitpur.

Lumbini Province Assembly member Rekha Kumari Sharma, former minister Bishnu Poudel, and Abhishek Giri, who has a controversial background close to the Congress, are among the recently arrested high-profile individuals.

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung initiated a 'countdown' by launching a series of arrests of high-profile individuals. After high-profile individuals were arrested, he would announce the arrests by posting numbers on his Facebook social media account.

Former DIG Hemanta Malla says that the arrest of individuals is not the only important issue. Talking to Ratopati, Malla said, 'Arrests based on political vendetta do not yield good results.'

Malla stated that results are more important than acting according to the wishes of social media users.

He added that while it is appropriate to detain individuals in criminal cases, the government should be mindful of civil rights in offenses like money laundering.

• Court's 'Break'

The Attorney General's Office decided not to prosecute Lumbini Province Assembly member Rekha Kumari Sharma on Jestha 16, 2082 BS. Despite arresting her again on the same charge and presenting her in court, Kathmandu District Court Judge Jagat Bahadur Poudel ordered her release on Chaitra 22. The government was then forced to release her.

A team from the Kathmandu Metropolitan City rescued a minor girl from MP Sharma's house in Jestha 2081 BS. The girl stated that she was being beaten. Based on that, Sharma was arrested.

Not only high-profile individuals, but the police have also recently launched operations against gangsterism. However, due to weak cases, most of the accused have been released by court order.

Among those arrested since the formation of the Shah-led government, only Karna Malla, Deepak Bhatta, and Sulabh Agarwal are currently in pre-trial detention.

Officials including the Director General of the Department of Passports, Tirtharaj Aryal, Director Sunil KC, and Nepal representative of Mulhbaur, Munindraraj Malla, who were taken into custody by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority under pressure from the Prime Minister's Secretariat in connection with irregularities in passport printing, were also released on nominal bail.

The court has been continuously putting a 'break' on the government's actions.

Former DIG Malla stated that when arrests are made without sufficient grounds, the accused are being released by the court, adding, 'It is important to be cautious about prosecuting without results.'

There are allegations that the government has been targeting high-profile individuals for money laundering offenses out of political vendetta. CPN-UML made such accusations institutionally after its Vice-Chairman Bishnu Poudel was arrested.

Former Home Secretary Chandi Prasad Shrestha stated that civil rights should not be violated in cases other than criminal offenses. He said, 'Detaining in criminal offenses is not wrong, but in other offenses, civil rights must be considered.'