Supreme Court asks why journalist Kishor Shrestha should not be released

Journalist Kishor Shrestha, editor of the weekly Jana Aastha, faces charges under Nepal's Privacy Act after his arrest late Wednesday. The Supreme Court has since ordered authorities to justify his detention, following a habeas corpus petition filed by his wife.

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The authorities have been engaging in “anti-press” conduct and said disputes over news content should be handled through the Press Council Nepal rather than criminal investigations.

The Kathmandu District Court authorized a three-day detention for Shrestha's investigation. Police seized electronic devices from his home and office, including a CPU, laptop, iPad, and mobile phone. The Jana Aastha office in Lalitpur was also raided.

The arrest has ignited a fierce debate across Nepal. The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has criticized the action as an "anti-press" move, arguing that disputes over news content should be handled by the Press Council Nepal, not criminal investigations. The FNJ stated that using state machinery against a journalist infringes upon press freedom, freedom of expression, and constitutional rights.

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The Press Council Nepal has jurisdiction over complaints concerning news content.

Conversely, some segments of the public and media have welcomed the arrest. They accuse Shrestha of using his journalistic platform to commit violence against women. This counter-narrative suggests the charges are a necessary response to alleged abuses of journalistic privilege.

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The police action amounted to an encroachment on the Press Council’s jurisdiction.