Plainclothes police entered the Kathmandu office of Naya Patrika daily on Friday evening seeking journalist Navaraj Mainali for questioning over a news report, then left about two and a half hours later after verbally instructing Mainali and a person identified as Pant to appear at the Cyber Bureau at 10 am the following day. A team that included Nepal Press Union General Secretary Ram Prasad Dahal also reached the newspaper’s office after the police arrived.
Police seek journalist for questioning
The officers told the newspaper’s staff that they had orders from Santosh Khadka, chief of the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, to bring Mainali in for questioning. The stated reason was a report published by the daily. The information provided about the incident does not identify the report or describe what aspect of it was under investigation.
The officers remained at the office for roughly two and a half hours. They subsequently left without taking Mainali away, according to the account of the incident. Before departing, the team verbally instructed Mainali and Pant to report to the Cyber Bureau at 10 am the next day. The account does not specify whether either journalist received a written summons or other formal notice.
The instruction named the Cyber Bureau as the place where the two were expected to appear, while the order cited by police was attributed to Khadka of the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office. The available details do not explain how the two offices were involved or whether the Cyber Bureau had issued a separate request. No further information was provided about the purpose of questioning Pant.
Press union team arrives at newspaper office
A group including Nepal Press Union General Secretary Ram Prasad Dahal arrived at the Naya Patrika office after police entered. The available account does not specify the exact time the team reached the premises, how long its members stayed, or what discussions they had with police or newspaper staff.
The police visit and the union representative’s arrival took place at the newspaper’s office during the same evening. The information provided does not describe any confrontation, arrest, or physical action at the premises. It also does not state whether Mainali or Pant confirmed that they would follow the verbal instruction to appear at the Cyber Bureau.
Details of report and inquiry remain unclear
The report at the centre of the police request has not been identified in the information available about the visit. No specific allegation, legal provision, complaint or case number was given. The account also does not include a response from Khadka, the Cyber Bureau, Mainali, Pant or Naya Patrika management explaining the basis for the proposed questioning.
The stated next step was for Mainali and Pant to appear at the Cyber Bureau at 10 am on Saturday, the day after the Friday evening visit. The information provided does not confirm whether they attended or whether any questioning took place. It therefore remains unclear what questions police intended to ask, what material they sought in connection with the report, or what action, if any, followed the verbal instruction.
