Kathmandu, November 4
The government has removed Dan Bahadur Karki from the post of Inspector General of Police (IGP), transferring him to the Prime Minister’s Office as an adviser.
A Cabinet meeting decided to relieve Karki of his responsibilities as police chief and place him under the Prime Minister’s Office in an advisory role.
The government’s decision comes amid allegations that Karki played a role in a series of controversial recent incidents.
The Cabinet opted to transfer him to the Prime Minister’s Office rather than dismiss him outright, as a direct removal was likely to invite legal complications.
The government has decided to appoint AIG Manoj KC as the new IGP.
Karki was appointed IGP by the government led by Sushila Karki on November 10, 2025. He assumed office on November 12. During the Gen Z protests on September 9, he was in charge of the Kathmandu Valley command.
His tenure of around a year was marked by several controversies. He faced allegations of irregularities in the procurement of uniforms for election police, while the government also questioned his command and control.
He was also criticised for allegedly running the police command in accordance with instructions from individuals close to the prime minister.
Last week, police were deployed to media offices and journalists’ homes, leading to arrests and detentions. It later emerged that Karki had allegedly ordered the operations at the direction of individuals in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.
He was also criticised for complying with instructions to carry out arrests, including those alleged to be unlawful. Courts subsequently ruled that some of the arrests were illegal.
