NUP demands probe into Resham Chaudhary’s arrest

KATHMANDU: Ranjita Shrestha Chaudhary, chairperson of the Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP), has called for an impartial investigation into the recent arrest of the party’s patron, Resham Chaudhary.

Speaking in the meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Shrestha demanded a public explanation for the arrest which was carried out without following due legal procedures. “How can an elected leader be arrested from the venue of a party program before it even begins?” she asked, referring to Resham Chaudhary’s arrest from the site of a planned unification event between NUP and Janamat Party.

The NUP has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the incident and has threatened to withdraw support from the government. NUP lawmaker Gangaram Chaudhary warned that if the Prime Minister does not address the issue in Parliament, the party will pull out of both the federal and provincial governments.

“We have demanded an explanation from the Prime Minister regarding Chaudhary’s arrest,” Gangaram told Himal Press. “If there is no response in Tuesday’s session, we will obstruct parliamentary proceedings from tomorrow and exit the government.”

He added that Chaudhary was arrested without cause, subjected to five hours of unlawful detention, and mentally harassed during that time. “This has caused serious psychological distress. The Prime Minister must take responsibility and respond in the House,” he said. “We are demanding the formation of an independent investigation committee to uncover the truth. Until that happens, we will continue to obstruct the House. There is no justification for remaining in a government that acts this way.”

Chaudhary was arrested on April 30 at the Nepal Academy Hall, just before the announcement of unification between the NUP and the Janamat Party. The arrest was based on a letter issued by Mahiman Singh Bista, a section officer from the Supreme Court’s writ section. The Supreme Court later clarified that the letter was unauthorized and issued a corrective notice to Dillibazar Prison, resulting in Chaudhary’s release after five hours in detention. The incident disrupted the planned unification between the two parties.

Mahiman Singh Bista is currently in police custody and under investigation for forgery.