Nepal Police issued an arrest warrant against senior journalist Dil Bhusan Pathak for his reporting and progtram presentation.
According to news reports on June 10, journalist Pathak was issued the warrant from the Kathmandu District Court on the basis of complaint filed by Jaybir Deuba for sharing a news story relating to his investment in a hotel.
On May 16, journalist Pathak had shared on his YouTube channel- Tough talk with Dil Bhusan Pathak – about news circulating in Nepali media about Deuba family’s investment in the hotel. In the video, he has also said that the hotel authority clarified that the hotel has not sold any of its shares and that its original investors remained unchanged. Shankar Group had published press release on May 11 as per Pathak's video.
Journalist Pathak has been charged under Electronic Transaction Act. On June 16, the Patan High Court issued an interlocutory order not to arrest journalist Pathak except in accordance with the law. Both parties have been summoned for a hearing on June 19.
“Nepal’s constitution has guaranteed freedom of expression and journalists’ right to free reporting. So, filing a cybercrime offense against journalist for reporting is an absolute misuse of the ETA and is an attempt to panic and control journalists and free press”, argues Freedom Forum’s Executive Chief Taranath Dahal, adding that there is already a content regulatory body, Press Council Nepal which can be approached in case of dissatisfacton over the news.
Freedom Forum has been repeatedly advocating against the sheer misuse of ETA.
FF condemns the issuance of arrest warrant against the journalist and urges the concerned authority to take back the arrest warrant.
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(The page was lasdt updated on June 16, 2:55 pm.)