- Police questioned Inam Sapkota regarding his phone communications and WhatsApp messages with former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana.
- Investigators found a message on Sapkota’s phone referring to Rs 50 million, though the money's source and purpose remain unverified.
- Authorities also probed Sapkota's links to businessmen Deepak Bhatt and Sulabh Agrawal, who are currently facing money-laundering charges.
- Sapkota was released after several hours, as officials found no public evidence proving the financial transaction was connected to the former Chief Justice.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Police have questioned Inam Sapkota over his contacts with former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana. The questioning has drawn attention to phone records, WhatsApp messages and a reference to Rs 50 million found on Sapkota’s mobile phone.
Police took Sapkota into custody at Tribhuvan International Airport and questioned him about his contacts with Rana and others. He was released after several hours of questioning.
According to police sources, investigators found several calls between Rana and Sapkota while checking Rana’s mobile phone. They also found that the two had communicated through WhatsApp.
Police questioned Sapkota about the nature of his relationship with Rana and their conversations. Investigators also asked him about his contacts with other people.
Police sources said Sapkota had been in contact with businessman Deepak Bhatt and Sulabh Agrawal, who are in custody in connection with a money-laundering case. Investigators reportedly found phone records showing communication between Sapkota and Bhatt.
Police also found a message on Sapkota’s phone referring to Rs 50 million. According to police sources, Sapkota had sent a message to a colleague saying, in effect, that Rs 50 million had arrived.
The message does not show where the money came from or who it was meant for. It is also not clear whether the money had any connection with Rana. No evidence has been made public showing that the amount was deposited into Rana’s bank account.
Police questioned Sapkota about the phone records, his contacts with Rana and other people, and the information found on his phone. He was later released.
There is no public information that Sapkota was arrested on a criminal charge or that a case was filed against him following the questioning.
Police action against Rana
The police action against Sapkota came after a separate incident involving Rana.
Police had taken Rana from his residence in Maharajgunj to the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office in Teku. Police said the move was related to a possible security concern, not a criminal investigation.
Rana was kept at the police office for some time and was later released.
The National Human Rights Commission also raised questions about the incident. Police were asked to explain why commission representatives were not allowed to meet Rana.
Police said the restriction was related to Rana’s security.
What the records show
The available information shows that Rana and Sapkota were in contact and that police examined their phone and WhatsApp communications. Police also found information about a reported Rs 50 million transaction on Sapkota’s phone.
But the information made public so far does not establish that the contact between Rana and Sapkota involved a crime. It also does not establish that the Rs 50 million was connected to Rana.
The source and purpose of the money, as well as the full context of the communications, remain unclear from the information made public so far.
