KATHMANDU, Oct 20: The District Government Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu, has filed a case against five individuals accused of abetting the suicide of 21-year-old model and TikToker Kalpana Kumari Nath, popularly known as Aanchal Nath. Nath had set herself on fire following a dispute during a TikTok live session.
The government attorney filed the case at the Kathmandu District Court based on a police investigation. The indicted individuals are: Sanju BK, 26, of Bhagwati Municipality-1 in Dailekh; Urmila BK (alias Anu) of Chaurjahari Rural Municipality-6 in Rukum; Saraswati Bhandari (alias Saru) of Sindhupalchowk; and Rajesh Budha, 22, and Laxmi Budha, 22, of Gauriganga Rural Municipality-1 in Kailali.
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According to the charge sheet, only Sanju BK is in police custody, while the other four are absconding. The prosecution has sought a five-year prison sentence for each defendant under the charge of abetment to suicide.
Police reports state that the accused had verbally abused and threatened Nath, who had been living in a rented room in Thimi, Bhaktapur, for the past two years. About three months ago, Nath met Urmila BK, the wife of the main accused, Sanju. They had invited her to live at their residence in Jadibuti, Koteshwor. Conflicts reportedly arose after Urmila accused Nath of having an affair with her husband, Sanju.
On September 25, during a TikTok live session, an argument broke out between Nath and Urmila’s group, during which they allegedly hurled abuses and death threats at her. Shortly after ending the live session, Nath poured petrol on herself and set herself on fire inside her room. Sanju, who was present at the scene, attempted to extinguish the flames and took her to Kathmandu Medical College. Nath died from burn injuries two days later.
Following the incident, Nath’s sister-in-law filed a complaint on October 9, alleging that she too had received death threats from the accused when she tried to discuss the matter.
The police investigation concluded that Nath’s death was a suicide, but the threats and psychological harassment leading up to the act justified the charges of abetment to suicide.
