KATHMANDU, Jan 27: Activist Yubaraj Sapkota, popularly known as Yuvraj Safal, was arrested for publicly criticizing the Attorney General’s decision to withdraw the criminal case against Rabi Lamichhane, chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).
Police said he was taken into custody for allegedly making “false statements and abusive remarks” on social media.
According to police sources, Sapkota reportedly used offensive language and made negative statements about Attorney General Sabita Bhandari across various media platforms and social networks. The Attorney General’s office had recently requested legal action against him, prompting police intervention.
Hearing underway on case against Rabi Lamichhane
The Kathmandu District Police presented Sapkota in the Kathmandu District Court on Tuesday, which approved a three-day custody period for further investigation.
Lamichhane and 43 others had previously been charged with money laundering and organised crime in connection with alleged cooperative fraud linked to Gorkha Media. Cases were registered at district courts in Kathmandu, Kaski, Rupandehi, Parsa and Chitwan.
However, on January 14, the Office of the Attorney General withdrew the money laundering and organised crime charges against Lamichhane and later extended similar relief to at least 50 other defendants.
Safal and others had challenged this action in court, arguing that no criminal case can be withdrawn without providing evidence of the accused’s innocence.
Following his arrest, the Kathmandu District Court granted police permission to hold Safal in three-day custody for further investigation.
