Kathmandu, April 26

Global media associations, including International Federation of Journalists, today condemned the arrest of noted journalist Kanak Mani Dixit and demanded his immediate release.

Dixit was sent to judicial custody on the charge of corruption after being arrested by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority on Friday.

Dixit has been charged with illegally amassing millions of rupees as the chairman of Sajha Yatayat. He has called the arrest a ‘vengeful act’ as he had led the protest against appointment of CIAA chief commissioner Lokman Singh Karki in 2013.

Due to high blood pressure, Dixit is receiving treatment at the ICU of Bir Hospital since Saturday. “The arrest of Kanak Mani Dixit raises serious concerns about freedom of expression in Nepal.

The circumstances of Dixit’s arrest are questionable,” said the IFJ. It further urged the government to immediately release him and conduct a transparent investigation into the arrest and the CIAA’s allegations.

Meanwhile, Committee to Protect Journalists and Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development also expressed deep concern over his arrest and demanded his release.

“Kanak Mani Dixit is a well-respected voice of responsible political discourse in Nepal and should not be treated as a common criminal,” said Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator.

FORUM-ASIA’s executive director, Evelyn Balais-Serrano, noted that the manner and timing of his arrest indicated this was a case of personal vendetta.

Meeting with ex-prez Yadav

KATHMANDU: Former president Ram Baran Yadav on Tuesday visited journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, who is undergoing treatment at the Bir Hospital.

It’s learnt that the ex-president met Dixit for about 20 minutes and inquired about his health condition.

A day after his arrest, Dixit was admitted to Bir Hospital due to high blood pressure. Kanak’s brother Kunda Dixit has twitted: “Ex-prez Ram Baran Yadav visits @KanakManiDixit at Bir Hosp ICU.”

It is being claimed that ex-president Yadav had visited Bir Hospital for his own health check up and took this as an opportunity to meet the detained journalist.