Nepal Police responds to SC on DIG Silwal's 'detention'

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Police headquarters said on Tuesday that DIG Nawaraj Silwal, accompanied by his lawyer Shambhu Thapa, himself had appeared before the Crime Investigation Department to record his statement in an investigation into the copy of supposed performance appraisal file of DIGs that he had presented before the Supreme Court as an evidence.

Saying some media reported the matter otherwise -- as Silwal's arrest --  the police agency added Silwal had returned home safe and sound yesterday itself.

Soon after Silwal was taken to the Nepal Police headquarters yesterday morning, his lawyers had said Silwal, who had moved the Supreme Court claiming that he had to be appointed the Inspector General of Nepal Police instead of Prakash Aryal, was illegally detained.

After a hearing on habeas corpus writ, the Supreme Court had issued a show cause notice over the matter and ordered the Nepal Police to immediately release Silwal and present him before it.

In a statement, the Nepal Police's spokesperson, SSB Sarbendra Khanal, said, "We have reported about it to the Supreme Court today."

A five-member panel -- formed as per the April 20 Cabinet decision to look into the allegations that Silwal forged a copy of performance appraisal file -- had summoned Silwal to inquire about the "source and authenticity" of the copy of document that he presented before the Supreme Court as an evidence to claim the post of the Inspector General of Police.

"DIG Silwal was notified with a letter about his summon before he appeared with his private lawyer senior advocate Shambu Thapa to have his statement recorded at around 8:00 am yesterday," Nepal Police's spokesperson, SSP Sarbendra Khanal, said in a statement.

"He was dropped at his house in Balkumari, Lalitpur safe and sound at 4:40 pm yesterday itself," the statement read.

Silwal told media that he was 'detained in an abduction style without warrant'.

He was later rushed to the Gwarko-based B & B Hospital after he complained of high blood pressure.

The Council of Ministers had ordered an investigation after the documents DIG Silwal submitted to the SC while filing a writ petition against the appointment of DIG Aryal as IGP and the ones that the Ministry of Home Affairs tabled in the Cabinet did not match.

The apex court is scheduled to hold final hearing on the writ on April 30.

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