KMG Chairman Sirohiya arrested, police preparing to take him to Janakpur

KATHMANDU, May 21: Chairman of Kantipur Media Group (KMG) Kailash Sirohiya has been arrested on charge of misusing his citizenship certificates.  A team of Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office arrested Chairman Sirohiya from KMG’s headquarters in Thapathali on Tuesday.

The police team led by SSP Sanuram Bhattarai and SP Rabindra Regmi of the Valley Crime Investigation Office had reached the KMG headquarters at Thapathali to arrest him.

Earlier, Chairman Sirohia had approached the Supreme Court demanding the cancellation of the arrest warrant. District Court, Dhanusha issued the arrest warrant in a case related to citizenship abuse.

A complaint was filed at the District Police Office, Dhanusha, alleging that Sirohiya had taken two different citizenship certificates of Nepal. Dhanusha police said that his citizenship number and another person's citizenship number are the same.

Speaking to the media after his arrest, Chairman Sirohiya said that his arrest was not in the citizenship case but against the news coverage KMG publications were making on cooperative frauds involving Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane. 

“I was not arrested in the citizenship case; it was against the news about cooperative fraud. I will fight for the press till the end,” he said.Police are preparing to take him to Janakpur in Dhanusha on Tuesday itself.

Issuing a statement Sirohiya said, "As a responsible citizen, I am fully prepared to cooperate with any investigation conducted according to the law. However, Kantipur Media Group, under my chairmanship, will not be deterred by any retaliation or interference stemming from the misuse of state power. In the past, Kantipur has faced similar interventions, including my own imprisonment. Whether during the autocratic monarchy or the tenure of Lokman Singh Karki, such conspiracies have targeted Kantipur for its reporting. Yet, Kantipur has always stood fearless. I am personally prepared to pay any price, but Kantipur will not compromise on its editorial freedom and responsibility."

He emphasized that it is the duty of any media outlet to call for investigation and action against those committing fraud to protect the hard-earned money of 7.1 million cooperative members and depositors. Sirohiya claimed there is no doubt that a complaint was filed against him, and an arrest warrant was issued without even conducting an inquiry, in an attempt to blackmail and divert attention from the main issue. He asserted that Kantipur will not back down from its duty of reporting on cooperative fraud and other irregularities.

The statement reads, "Officials who misuse police power and authority for personal retaliation against the chairman of a media house for writing news should also consider this: When will there be an investigation into the issue of dual passports, where instead of a proper investigation, the Office of the Attorney General decided to dismiss the case, allowing political bargaining to secure power?”

He added that the government, every responsible state institution, political parties, civil society, and all conscious Nepalis must exercise discretion. "Kantipur's reporting remains consistent even amidst misuse of state power and resources. This is Kantipur's identity and legacy," the statement reads.