Kathmandu, October 6
The government suspended Armed Police Force AIG Banshiraj Dahal from his post on Monday afternoon on allegations of leaking sensitive information.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Dahal was suspended for engaging in conduct contrary to official protocol and for leaking sensitive information.
According to information provided to Onlinekhabar by sources, two reasons have emerged behind his suspension.
The first concerns his “connection” with former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana.
According to Home Ministry sources, AIG Dahal had reached the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office in Teku on the night of September 27. Police had brought former Chief Justice Rana there shortly after taking him into custody from his residence.
“It appears that he reached Teku shortly after Rana was brought to the police station,” the source said. “After he arrived at the police office in the middle of the night without regard for official protocol, further investigation into him was initiated.”
According to the source, Dahal had gone to Teku without informing anyone and had also bypassed the chain of command.
The source said that while investigating why AIG Banshiraj Dahal had gone to Teku, a second reason came to light.
That was his “connection” with a person named Inam Sapkota from Jhapa.
An investigation conducted by the Police Special Bureau found that AIG Dahal had been in contact with Sapkota, whom the police investigation regarded as suspicious.
According to the source, Dahal appears to have shared sensitive information concerning former Chief Justice Rana through Sapkota.
Following the investigation, police also took Inam Sapkota into custody. He was released after being held for a day.
A source at the investigation bureau said investigators found that Dahal had been sharing information through Inam’s mobile phone.
A meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs held today also decided to appoint an investigation officer and proceed with a formal inquiry. The appointed officer has been given a mandate to complete the investigation and submit a report to the ministry within three days.
The government is preparing to include in the report the findings concerning the connection between Rana, Dahal and Sapkota.
On the night of September 27, the government took former Chief Justice Rana into custody from his residence, citing a security threat.
Police kept him in custody for around 12 hours before releasing him. At the time, the manner in which he was taken from his home in the middle of the night had also drawn criticism.
