Nepal Police Headquarters has replaced Kathmandu Police chief Senior Superintendent of Police Rabindra Dhanuk with SSP Bishworaj Pokhrel.

Along with SSP Dhanuk, Deputy Superintendent of Police Bel Pandey of the investigation unit has also been transferred to the headquarters.

Informed sources say Dhanuk was transferred over suspicious investigation process on counterfeit documents submitted by former Deputy Inspector General of Police Nawaraj Silwal.

A sources at the police headquarters said SSP Dhanuk, appointed last August, had failed to maintain chain of command and impose strict discipline among police officers on his watch. “Recently, Kathmandu police was not serious about investigating Nawaraj Silwal case,” said the source.

SSP Dhanuk’s tenure witnessed many questionable deeds of police officers including involvement in corruption, unjust treatment to victims and high-profile killings. Kathmandu police was under fire recently for failing to register a rape victim’s complaint. Two officers at the Durbarmarg station refused to register the 22-year-old gang rape victim’s complaint. They advised her to settle the issue with the perpetrators of the crime.

Many believe the primary reason for Dhanuk’s transfer is linked to the ongoing investigation on Silwal.

The Kathmandu police launched an investigation into Silwal on December 20 after the Supreme Court directed the government to take action against those involved in forging his performance evaluation report. Following the court directives, the Nepal Police headquarters had handed the case to the range.

The apex court, in the full text of its decision on the case concerning the appointment of the police chief, said there were discrepancies between the performance evaluation reports presented by the Public Service Commission and petitioner Silwal. The SC had called for a thorough investigation and ordered action against those involved in forging the document.

On January 2, the Nepal Police issued an arrest warrant against Silwal, who is now a member of the House of Representatives on CPN-UML ticket.

Despite correspondence between the Metropolitan Police Range, Teku with Metropolitan Police Range, Lalitpur, police is yet to arrest Silwal and present him for interrogation.

Silwal has been maintaining that he did not do anything wrong and the current investigation is vendetta against him sought by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and IGP Prakash Aryal.

“I will first keep track of the investigation and look into it. We don’t plan to immediately present the investigation in court,” said newly appointed SSP Pokhrel.

Police officials at the Police Range Kathmandu, closely following the investigation of former DIG Silwal, said they have enough evidence to prove he produced a counterfeit document.

A forensic test has proved the document is counterfeit. It also does not match with the evaluation documents kept at the Public Service Commission and the Nepal Police Headquarters, the officer said.