KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu District Attorney's Office has filed cybercrime charges against three sidhakura.com employees: Editor Nabin Dhungana, Publisher Yubaraj Kandel, and Rajkumar Timalsina, who reportedly provided the audio in the issue. All three have been charged in absentia since they are presently fugitives.
The charges stem from an article published on sidhakura.com alleging a controversial deal involving a Supreme Court judge to settle a sting operation case. The article included audio purportedly from the meeting where the alleged deal was discussed. Following its release, the Supreme Court issued a contempt of court petition. During the inquiry, the accused provided statements, and the matter has now been sent to the entire bench of the Supreme Court for a final judgment.
The Supreme Court ordered the police to look into the accuracy of the tape in response to the accusations. The police filed charges based on a report they provided after completing an investigation. According to the charge sheet, the defendants prepared and distributed deceptive video clips including court proceedings, hearings, and decisions, in violation of the Electronic Transactions Act.
During the investigation phase, various individuals were questioned by the police, including Rajkumar Timalsina, Kailash Sirohiya (Chairman of Kantipur Publications), SP Sanjay Singh Thapa, Captain Rameshwar Thapa (Chairman of Annapurna Post), journalist Surendra Kafle, and senior advocate Hariprasad Upreti. Timalsina reportedly implicated these individuals in connection with the alleged deal.
The charge sheet specifically accuses the defendants of damaging the honor and reputation of the Supreme Court and its judges, creating public misconceptions, and inciting animosity. The legal proceedings now await the adjudication of the Supreme Court's full bench.
