Kathmandu, September 27
Former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana was taken into custody from his residence in Maharajgunj on Saturday night, with police saying he was brought to the Criminal Investigation Office in Teku following a reported security threat.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Santosh Khadka of the Criminal Investigation Office, Teku, said Rana was taken to the office after police received information that he could be at risk.
Speaking to Onlinekhabar on Sunday morning, SSP Khadka said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure.
“After learning that there was a security threat to him, we brought him to our office at night because something could happen,” Khadka said.
No arrest warrant obtained
Sources familiar with the matter said police had not obtained an arrest warrant from any court before taking Rana into custody.
According to sources close to the judiciary, if police need to take someone into custody without first obtaining a court-issued warrant, they are required to seek an emergency arrest authorisation under the applicable legal procedure.
Police have not yet provided further details about the nature of the alleged security threat or identified who may have posed the threat.
Rana informed his brother
When police arrived at his Maharajgunj residence on Saturday night, Rana reportedly called his brother, Prabhu Shumsher, and informed him about the situation.
Speaking to Onlinekhabar on Sunday morning, Prabhu Shumsher said police told Rana that there was a threat to him from Gen Z protesters.
“The police said there was a threat to you from the Gen Z [group] and took my brother with them,” Prabhu Shumsher said.
According to Prabhu Shumsher, Rana is currently being kept at the Criminal Investigation Office in Teku.
A source close to Rana said he has not been allowed to meet visitors. His son has reportedly gone to the Teku office seeking to meet him.
Police yet to clarify further details
Rana was taken into custody by a team from the Criminal Investigation Office, Teku, late Saturday night.
While police have confirmed that he was brought to the office because of a reported security threat, authorities have not publicly provided further details about the nature of the threat or whether Rana is being investigated in connection with any criminal case.
The circumstances surrounding his detention, including the legal basis for taking him into custody without a court-issued arrest warrant, remain unclear.
