Deputy Speaker Files Complaint Against Journalist Kishor Shrestha on Day of His Release

 

Kathmandu: Journalist Kishor Shrestha was released on Monday following a Supreme Court order, but he faced a new legal complaint on the very same day. Deputy Speaker Rubi Kumari Thakur filed a complaint against Shrestha at the Lalitpur District Police Range.

Thakur has accused Shrestha of publishing misleading and defamatory content about her through the Facebook page and online platform of Jan Aastha. According to her complaint, the reports used her personal photograph and allegedly attempted to undermine her dignity, constitutional position, personal character and reputation.

She has claimed that the published reports caused serious harm to her personal, family and social life. Thakur said the man mentioned in the reports was actually her brother, to whom she had tied a Rakhi during Raksha Bandhan. She alleged that portraying him as someone with whom she had an improper relationship was an attempt to defame her and damage her character.

Thakur also submitted copies of the published reports and photographs to the police along with her complaint.

The fresh complaint came after Shrestha was released from custody earlier on Monday. The Supreme Court, through a joint bench of Justices Nahakul Subedi and Balkrishna Dhakal, ordered his release in a case related to alleged violation of personal privacy.

The court said there was no apparent need to keep Shrestha in detention for further investigation. It ordered that, if further investigation was required, it could proceed while keeping him on personal recognizance or on a date-to-date appearance basis in accordance with the law.

The Supreme Court also directed authorities to return materials seized from Shrestha’s residence and office. The court referred to constitutional provisions protecting communication rights and stated that media materials should not be seized or media operations obstructed except as permitted by law.

At the same time, the court noted that freedom of communication is not unlimited. It said the state may impose reasonable legal restrictions in matters such as defamation, contempt of court, public decency and morality, as provided by the Constitution and law.

Shrestha had earlier been arrested over a report linking an RSP lawmaker with another woman. Although the Kathmandu District Court had allowed his detention to be extended by four days on Monday, he was released after the Supreme Court’s order.

Shrestha’s release, however, was followed almost immediately by another complaint—this time filed by the Deputy Speaker herself.