Kailash Sirohiya, the Chairman and publisher of the Kantipur Media Group, was arrested in Kathmandu on May 21, following a warrant issued by the Dhanusha District Court. The arrest, tied to issues with his citizenship documents, has sparked widespread criticism, with many in Nepal’s media community believing it to be a retaliatory move linked to his coverage of Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.
Sirohiya is currently under judicial custody in Dhanusha, where his detention was extended by three days on May 22. He has denied the allegations regarding his citizenship and described the arrest as politically motivated, claiming it was in response to Kantipur’s investigative reporting on Lamichhane.
Sirohiya’s arrest follows the publication of reports alleging Lamichhane’s involvement in financial misconduct, including misappropriating millions of Nepali Rupees from a cooperative fund during his tenure as managing director of the Gorkha Media Network.
Media organizations, including the Nepal Press Union (NPU) and the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), have strongly condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom. On May 23, 31 editors from prominent publications sent a letter to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressing concern over the timing and nature of the arrest, stressing their commitment to defending press freedom.
Both the NPU and FNJ have alleged that the arrest was instigated by Lamichhane to suppress critical journalism, a claim which has been supported by media unions and press freedom advocates. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) also voiced its concern, urging the Nepali authorities to uphold the country’s constitutional guarantees for press freedom.
Supporters of Sirohiya held protests outside the Dhanusha District Police Office, demanding his immediate release and calling for an end to the intimidation of journalists in Nepal.
