KATHMANDU, Jan 23: Singer Astha Raut will be apprehended if she refuses to cooperate with the police organization, said Nepal Police Spokesperson DIG Sailesh Thapa Chhetri.

District Administration Office Kathmandu has issued an arrest warrant against Raut for her “indecent behavior” with a woman airport security officer and the use of “derogatory language” toward the police organization.

The arrest warrant came after the “victim” constable Ramita Shrestha filed a complaint of “misconduct” against her at the Metropolitan Police Range.

“The behavior she showed to an on-duty police officer is regarded as an offense by the law. A policewoman also has the right to seek justice. She has filed a complaint against Raut.”

“We are not planning to arrest Raut. But, she must to come to a realization and establish an understanding with the victim policewoman.”

“The process has been forwarded because Raut, as an artist, failed to show politeness toward an airport security officer.”

Also Read: Arrest warrant issued against singer Astha Raut (Videos uploaded by Astha Raut and TIA CCTV footage included)

Raut, while heading to Sikkim from Bharatpur, had uploaded a self-recorded video on social networks slamming the police organization for their “rude” behavior toward an artist. She had called the “lower-ranked police officers” as “uncivilized”, “lacking respect” and accused Shrestha of “misbehaving and abusing her” at the domestic terminal.

Two days later, a CCTV footage of the security check at the domestic terminal of the TIA surfaced in social media which showed a confrontation between singer Raut and officer Shrestha.

In the video, security officer Shrestha asks is seen asking Raut, as she approaches, to take her jacket off first before entering the X-ray scanner. But Raut gets through ignoring the officer’s request and starts talking with Shrestha. According to Raut’s video, she had asked Shrestha to let her through because she was in a hurry.

But Shrestha stops Raut and instructs her to go back and remove her jacket while also seizing the coffee glass she is carrying in her right hand, it is when Raut loses her cool. After the security check, Shrestha tells Raut to take her coffee with her but Raut refuses to do so resulting in a confrontation between the two.

It is still unknown who leaked the CCTV footage of such a highly sensitive area, but many have assumed that police deliberately leaked the video to counter Raut’s video comments and protect the department’s image.

Spokesperson Chhetri said the police are investigation over the footage leak but defended it saying the CCTV footage clearly showed what happened at the airport.

“It was not necessary to leak the video though,” he said.

“To my knowledge, no officer of Nepal Police leaked the video.”

“Moreover, no hot beverages are allowed to carry with.”

According to Chhetri, the preliminary investigation found “not more fault” in Shrestha’s behavior.

“We have not yet concluded that Raut’s behavior toward Shrestha was a form of misconduct. But, to further the investigation and arrive at a conclusion, we are required to interrogate Raut first. For that, Raut must come in contact with the police,” he said.

“If the victim policewoman becomes ready to apologize, the circumstance could change.”

“The police are conducting a fair investigation into the case.”

“If she does not contact the police and refuses to cooperate, we might have to detain her.”

“And, even after the investigation, there is also a probability she could get arrested if proved guilty.”

According to the police, Raut has violated Section 118 of Criminal Code 2074 (2017) which states that no one should enter and misbehave anyone in a public place or at a place where entry is legally prohibited.

If found guilty of the offense, one could face a sentence up to one year in jail and Rs10,000 fine.

Raut is reported to be in Sikkim at present. She is known for her superhits Saal ko Pata Tapari, Maya Yo Maya and Chaubandi Ma Patuki.

KATHMANDU, Aug 23: Radio journalist Harisaran Lamichhane has claimed that his brother Rabi Lamichhane has no involvement in the suicide of journalist Salikram Pudasaini. He is innocent and will get out of prison with honor soon, he added.

Television presenter Rabi Lamichhane has been accused of abetting Pudasaini to commit suicide, whose body was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a room at Kangaroo Hotel in Narayangadh on August 5.

Kathmandu Metropolitan Police, in the request of Chitwan District Police, arrested Rabi on August 15 from Kathmandu base News24 office based on a video clip recorded by his ex-colleague Pudasaini in his final moments, in which he held Lamichhane “chiefly responsible for his decision to commit suicide.”

Yuvraj Kandel and Asmita Karki who were also mentioned in the 13-minute long video clip were also arrested and taken to Chitwan.

“Police say Pudasaini recorded several videos in the period of two hours before taking his own life. But only a portion of the video was leaked.”

Rabi Lamichhane’s wife Nikita Paudel had reached Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu on Wednesday for lodging a complaint against the editor of Jana Aastha Weekly Kishor Shrestha, the editor of online news portal Nepal Aaja Sanket Koirala and chief of District Police Office Chitwan SP Dan Bahadur Malla for tampering the electronic evidence of the video. However, the Range denied filing the complaint citing the case was under the purview of Chitwan Police.

The mobile phone which contained the video was recovered by police officials who had reached the hotel room where Pudasaini was found hanging and was sent to the digital forensic lab at the Crime Investigation Department.

“How did private media get access to the evidence (video clip) from the police? I briefly watched the interview of Kishor Shrestha in which he said he obtained the video from family sources? How did the family receive the video clip from the police?”

“I know Rabi and Kishor’s rivalry go years back. Both are competing against each other. Even though Pudasaini has categorically taken the names of Rabi and two others in the video, there is no concrete proof that Rabi used to torture him.”

“The video itself cannot be proof,” he added.

According to Harisaran, the police investigation is incomplete as the investigation process seems primarily focused on framing Rabi responsible for Pudasaini’s suicide.

Instead of widening the investigation, the investigation is centered on proving Rabi guilty. The investigation is incomplete and heading in the wrong direction,” he said.

“The investigation should not be limited to the video clip. They need to realize there are other factors as well. For example, why did Pudasaini go to Chitwan? Who called him? I have learned that Pudasaini had met some people when he was in Chitwan. Why don’t the police interrogate them?”

“Rabi and Pudasaini might have had rough moments. But these things alone could not have compelled him to the decision to end his own life. There might be many factors contributing to it such as family and society.”

“But I don’t believe Rabi will be proved guilty. I don’t believe Rabi has direct involvement in Pudsaini’s suicide. I am confident he is innocent and will be released from prison with honor,” Harisaran added.

Chitwan District Court on Sunday remanded Rabi Lamichhane, Karki and Kandel to extended of custody of five days to conduct further investigation into the death of the ex-colleague Pudasaini as the investigation remains inclusive.

Harisaran also denied reports that he politicized the Rabi’s case. Thousands of supporters of Rabi has been protesting in Bharatpur every day demanding his immediate release despite the district administration declaring the area restricted zone.

“Rabi is a prominent media figure. He advocated against injustice and corruption through his television program Sidha Kura Janta Sanga. The crowd there has not affected in the investigation but is a part that speaks Rabi is innocent.

“We did not gather them there. Neither have we politicized the case. The supporters of Rabi have arrived themselves.”

“The state should also understand the background and psychology of aggression of the crowd,” he added.