KATHMANDU, March 31: Former Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu, Chhabi Rijal, has been released on a personal recognizance bond, police said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson for the Kathmandu District Police Range, SP Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, said Rijal was released after authorities collected the required documents from him. “We have obtained all the necessary documents. He has been released on the condition that he will appear when summoned,” Bhattarai said.
A team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office had arrested him from his residence in Subidhanagar earlier on Tuesday morning.
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A probe commission formed to investigate the Gen Z movement of September 8 and 9 had recommended action against Rijal. The commission suggested investigation and prosecution under Section 181 of the National Penal Code, 2017, on the charge of causing death by negligence.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 30,000.
A cabinet meeting held on Friday had decided to implement the commission’s report in cases not involving the security apparatus. On Saturday, former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak were also arrested.
Earlier, authorities had indicated that the CDO would not be arrested, citing the position’s role as chair of the District Security Committee. However, Rijal was detained on Tuesday morning before being released later in the day.
