Kathmandu, February 2

Nagarik Unmukti Party's lawmaker Arun Kumar Chaudhary was arrested from Chisapani area of Baidhyanath Municipality in Banke district today.

Chaudhary was elected to the House of Representatives from the neighbouring district of Kailali.

Deputy Inspector General Posh Raj Pokharel, spokesperson for Nepal Police, said Chaudhary was convicted in a case of arson in 2013 and had been absconding.

Chaudhary had a checkered past and his involvement in criminal activities came to light only after he was sworn in as a lawmaker.

The Kailali District Court had convicted Chaudhary and three others on 22 April 2013 on the charge of setting a tractor ablaze on 19 August 2008.

They were sent to custody for six months and slapped a fine of Rs 818,423.

The owner of the tractor, Mahadev Bajgain, who had filed the case against Chaudhary and had sought compensation, became mayor of Lamki Chuha Municipality of Kailali in 2017 local election after defeating Chaudhary.

Chaudhary again lost the provincial election held later that year.

The NUP, meanwhile, has given the government a 24- hour ultimatum to release Chaudhary.

Party Spokesperson Damodar Pandit issued a statement warning that if Chaudhary was not freed within 24 hours, party cadres would take to the streets.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 3, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.