Singer Astha Raut released on bail

KATHMANDU, Jan 28: Controversial singer Astha Raut has been released on bail on Tuesday.

Kathmandu District Administration Office (DAO) released Raut on a bail bond of Rs 4,000, a day after she presented herself before the Metropolitan Police Range, Teku.

The DAO had earlier remanded her to four-day custody to further investigate into the complaint of “misconduct” filed by police constable Ramita Shrestha, following a confrontation between them at the domestic terminal of the Tribhuvan International Airport two weeks ago.

However, Raut was admitted to Blue Cross Hospital in Tripureshwar after she suffered hypertension. 

Raut had taken to Facebook to vent ire on the police organization, criticizing Nepal Police using “derogatory language”. However, after the video attracted harsh criticism on social media, she removed the video and posted another apologizing to the police organization.

A CCTV footage of the security check at the TIA had also surfaced on social media two days later, which showed what had happened between Raut and constable Shrestha.

Shrestha had then already filed a complaint of “misconduct” at the Metropolitan Police Range, Teku against Raut. Acting on the complaint, the District Administration Office Kathmandu had issued an arrest warrant against her.