KATHMANDU: Nepal Police apprehended Kailash Sirohiya, the chairman of the Kantipur Media Group, from the Kantipur Publications’ headquarters in Thapathali, Kathmandu, on Tuesday. The arrest was made following a complaint filed by Indrajit Mahato of Sarlahi district at the Dhanusha district police office on April 28, alleging Sirohiya's involvement in using multiple citizenships, a violation of the Citizenship Act 2006.
Despite Sirohiya's assurance of cooperation in the judicial investigation, he was detained without inquiry solely based on the complaint. Sirohiya expressed shock at the arbitrary nature of the warrant, questioning the rationale behind his arrest without the opportunity to present his case. He accused Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane of orchestrating his arrest in retaliation for Kantipur Publications' coverage of Lamichhane's alleged involvement in various scams.
The arrest drew widespread condemnation from various quarters. The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) denounced the arrest as vindictive, linking it to Kantipur's investigative reporting on Lamichhane's alleged misconduct. Opposition leaders, including Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, criticized the government's action, labeling it as undemocratic and reminiscent of authoritarian tactics.
Even leaders from the ruling coalition expressed reservations about Sirohiya's arrest. Pradeep Gyawali of the CPN-UML questioned the necessity of the arrest and cautioned against the state losing composure. However, Sirohiya remained resolute, pledging to cooperate with investigations while asserting Kantipur's commitment to upholding press freedom.
Critics viewed Sirohiya's arrest as an attempt to stifle dissent and intimidate the media. They highlighted Lamichhane's history of deflecting accusations and targeting the press, citing previous clashes between Kantipur and Lamichhane. The Nepal Media Society and other prominent figures condemned the arrest, urging citizens to stand against such undemocratic tendencies.
