Journalist Kishor Shrestha Arrested Over Alleged Privacy Act Violation Linked To Janaastha Publication

Journalist Kishor Shrestha, editor and publisher of Jana Aastha Weekly, has been arrested by police for investigation over an alleged violation of Nepal’s Privacy Act, 2018.

A joint team from the Kathmandu District Police Range and the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office arrested Shrestha from his residence in Kusunti, Lalitpur, on Wednesday evening.

Police officials confirmed that Shrestha was taken into custody and is currently being held at the District Police Range, Kathmandu.

The Kathmandu District Police Range had obtained an arrest warrant from the Kathmandu District Court before carrying out the arrest.

Case Linked To Published Photo

According to police, the arrest was made after a complaint was filed against Shrestha regarding content published through Jana Aastha’s platform.

Police said the complaint is related to a photo that appeared in the media a few days earlier.

SSP Dilip Ghimire of the Kathmandu District Police Range said a victim had filed a complaint against Shrestha. He said only one complaint has been registered so far.

Police are investigating whether the published material violated the Privacy Act, 2018.

Deputy Speaker Files Complaint

The case is also linked to a complaint filed by Deputy Speaker Rubi Kumari Thakur at Press Council Nepal.

Thakur alleged that objectionable and threatening content, along with her photo, was published on the social media page of Jana Aastha.

She requested an impartial investigation and demanded that the source and evidence behind the claims mentioned in the content be presented.

Police Raid Jana Aastha Office After Arrest

Following Shrestha’s arrest, police also searched his residence at around 1:00 AM.

On Thursday morning, a police team raided the office of Jana Aastha Weekly in Kathmandu.

According to staff members, police entered the office premises and searched Shrestha’s office room and the newsroom area.

Details about what police collected during the search have not been released.

Media Groups Protest Police Action

After Shrestha’s arrest, representatives from media organisations, including the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, gathered at the police station late Wednesday night.

They protested the arrest and raised concerns over the action taken against a journalist.

Investigation Continues

Shrestha remains in police custody as the investigation continues.

Police are expected to present him before the court as part of the ongoing legal process.

The case has brought attention to issues related to privacy rights, media responsibility and legal accountability in published content.