Nepal Media Society (NMS) has said that its serious attention has been drawn towards the complaint registered at the Kathmandu District Administration Office by Ajeya Raj Sumargi, claiming that he has security threat from Chairman and Managing Director of Kantipur Media Group Kailash Sirohiya.

The NMS said in a statement on Wednesday that Sumargi’s complaint could be but his manoeuvring to intimidate the press.

The complaint was filed following the news reports published in Kantipur daily about Sumargi’s attempt to bring money as loan from offshore tax havens, including British Virgin Islands, by opening a company in the name of Nepali citizen.

“There must be evidence to establish that somebody has threatened someone. If anyone is involved in accusing a media owner without any evidence, it can be concluded that the accuser is trying to play with the country’s economy, or a group could be intending or planning to attack someone,” read the statement. 

The NMS has demanded that Sumargi should clearly mention how and by which medium he was threatened by Sirohiya. It has also urged the concerned authorities to take necessary action against Sumargi if he fails to furnish evidence to corroborate his claim.

In the last week of December, Sumargi, who is being investigated by the authorities on the charges of money laundering and suspicious investment schemes, had filed a petition at the Kathmandu District Administration Office, claiming that Sirohiya was a threat to his safety.

The news report in question, which was based on a study report prepared jointly by the Anti-money Laundering Department and the Central Bureau of Investigation, had mentioned about Sumargi’s involvement in sending illegally earned money abroad and channelling them back as foreign investment.

 “Nepali media have been publishing news reports about some vested interests groups and businessmen involved in bringing money from foreign company as loan and channelling them back abroad in the name of paying back the loan,” the NMS said, noting that these activities are occurring at a time when international body that

regulates and checks money laundering has been constantly warning the Nepali authorities.

The NMS has also urged the authorities to stop arbitrary arrests of journalists for refusing to disclose their news sources. It has made it clear that it will not tolerate

any move to control or abuse the press.