At 12:30 am police arrived at former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana’s residence in Maharajgunj. A team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office reached the house at midnight, causing a stir in the area; the local police circle (Maharajgunj) was also informed given the location.
A team led by a DSP told Rana to accompany them to the police office, which he initially refused outright. Police claimed at the time that he faced a “security threat” and needed to be taken along, but he continued to refuse. According to police sources, it was only after roughly an hour and a half of persuasion that officers were able to bring him out of the house.
About a dozen plainclothes police officers, under a DSP’s command, had arrived at the Rana’s residence from the Crime Investigation Office. Rana was brought to the Crime Investigation Office in Teku around 2 am and questioned in the office of SSP Santosh Khadka, who reportedly stayed at the office through the night in anticipation of needing to act.
Police say they received a “Gen Z” attack threat against him
It remains unclear why a former Chief Justice would be arrested in the middle of the night. Police confirmed no arrest warrant had been issued against Rana. SSP Khadka claimed Rana was brought in due to a “security threat,” saying information had been received suggesting a possible physical attack on him overnight, and that he was brought in for his own safety.
However, questions have been raised about this explanation, since providing additional security at his residence would have been a more standard option than removing him at night.
Khadka said that the information reached police late at night, necessitating immediate action. Police have claimed the threat information involved potential attackers linked to “Gen Z” groups. This marks the first time in the Supreme Court’s history that a former Chief Justice has been arrested in this manner, though again, no formal arrest warrant was issued.
