KATHMANDU, AUGUST 28

Comedian Apurba Kshitiz Singh was arrested after complaints were lodged against him for making racist remarks in a standup comedy show.

Superintendent of Police Dinesh Raj Mainali of Metropolitan Police Kathmandu Range said that Singh was taken into custody after numerous complaints were filed against him for passing derogatory comments over culture and tradition and racial discrimination.

Some activists had filed a complaint against Comedian Singh in Kathmandu for passing racially discriminatory comments in his comedy show over the Newa people, indigenous Kathmandu denizens.

Hundreds had taken to social media to take action against Singh. Over a dozen activists had reached the premises of Kathmandu Police at Teku yesterday and demanded action against him. A written FIR has also been filed against Singh as per SP Mainali.

'We arrested Singh acting over the written and verbal complaints filed against him for hurting the sentiments of a community. We are investigating into the case as per complaints,' SP Mainali said.

On a YouTube channel of Comedy Café, a popular platform for standup comedians in Nepal, comedian had made jokes about 'Newar tradition' especially about the accent of Newari people their food and culture. A short clip of the video was also viral on Facebook where comedian faced the wrath of the native people. Many demanded action against Singh while they also passed similar derogatory comments on Singh and the Madeshi people.

After receiving widespread criticism the video was removed from the YouTube channel but many shorter versions of the video are still available on Facebook.

Singh also apologised for the comment through a video.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 29, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.