Kathmandu, October 19

Former speaker of the House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara,  who was taken into police custody for investigation of attempt-to-rape charge levelled against him, underwent a coronary angiogram at Norvic International Hospital yesterday.

“He is currently in critical care unit,” said Rajendra Bahadur Singh, executive director of Norvic Hospital.

“Mahara’s blood pressure has increased. Therefore, he had to undergo coronary angiogram,” Singh added.

“Depending upon the health condition, a patient is kept in the critical care unit from 12 to 24 hours after the test,” said a hospital source.

A coronary angiogram is a dye test used to detect heart problems. Catheter — long, thin flexible tube is inserted into the wrist or groin and guided up to the heart.

A dye is injected and X-ray pictures are taken. The dye allows the X-rays to capture pictures of arteries to check blockages or narrow spots.

Coronary angiograms are part of a general group of procedures known as heart (cardiac) catheterisations. Cardiac catheterisation procedures can both diagnose and treat heart and blood vessel conditions. A coronary angiogram, which can help diagnose heart conditions, is the most common type of cardiac catheterisation procedure

“A coronary angiogram is a procedure that uses X-ray imaging to see the heart’s blood vessels. The test is generally done to see if there’s a restriction in blood flow going to the heart,” said Uttam Krishna Shrestha, executive director at Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre.

On September 30, Roshani Shahi, a nurse at the Parliament Secretariat had accused Mahara of raping her the night before, at her rented apartment at Tinkune. Mahara had then resigned from the post of speaker on October 1 following the allegation.

Shahi, later made a volte-face, disowning her earlier version that Mahara raped her in her rented apartment.

However, she filed a first information report on October 4 accusing Mahara of attempting to rape her. In the FIR she had also charged Mahara of acts of violence against her.

Mahara was arrested from his official residence, Baluwatar, on October 6.  Kathmandu District Court, on October 15, had ordered additional three days of remand for Mahara, over attempt-to-rape allegation.

According to the court’s decision, Mahara had been remanded to judicial custody for 13 days from the day of his arrest on October 6. As he had already remained in custody for 10 days, he was detained for three more days till October 18 for investigation.

Mahara, who was kept in custody at Metropolitan Police Circle, Singha Durbar, was admitted to Thapathali-based Norvic Hospital after he complained of chest pain.

Mahara has been under medication for respiratory ailments since long.

“Mahara will be presented at Kathmandu District Court tomorrow depending upon his health condition,” said Uttam Raj Subedi, senior superintendent of police, head of  Metropolitan Police Range, Teku.