National
‘Threats will not deter us from filing case’
Attorney General Basanta Ram Bhandari on Wednesday said “threats and intimidating phone calls will not deter us from registering the case” against former Deputy Inspector General Nawaraj Silwal.Manish Gautam
Attorney General Basanta Ram Bhandari on Wednesday said “threats and intimidating phone calls will not deter us from registering the case” against former Deputy Inspector General Nawaraj Silwal.
The AG’s office is reportedly under intense pressure from CPN-UML leaders not to register the case against Silwal. Confirming the pressure, AG Bhandari said, “Criminals are using their political clout to evade arrest. This is nothing new. We are also getting intimidating phone calls telling to not to register the case. These threats will not deter us from filing the case in court.”
Earlier in the day, police submitted Silwal’s case file to the government attorney’s office. The police had started investigation a month ago.
Attorney General Basanta Ram Bhandari confirmed police submitting the case file.
“We will review the document and file the case at the district court,” said AG Bhandari. “Nawaraj Silwal has missed a great opportunity to clarify his case.”
AG Bhandari said the case will be registered against Silwal at the Kathmandu District Court at any cost.
Police officials confirmed the government attorney had initially declined to take the case claiming it is not a complete investigation. Later, AG Bhandari intervened to register the case.
Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, Chief SSP Bishwo Raj Pokhrel said, “The investigation is completed. The previous SSP did it, we just took the file for submission. SSP Pokhrel referred to SSP Rabindra Dhanuk who was recently transferred to Nepal Police Headquarters. Sources say it was because of suspicious investigation process on the counterfeit documents submitted by former DIG Silwal.
The Kathmandu police started investigating 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 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 and Metropolitan Police Range, Lalitpur, police is yet to arrest Silwal and present him for interrogation.
Silwal insists 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.
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.