Things developed on Wednesday so as to wrap up the alcohol-spurred midnight scandal, involving a single shot fired in the air from an illegally-possessed pistol, as a minimal public offence, with Shah possibly being set free against bail or a straight fine of Rs 10,000. [break]
Paras reportedly told both public prosecutors and the high-level probe panel during interrogations that he did not fire at Tiger Tops Lodge on Saturday night and also denied possession of any firearm. “He only insisted that the incident was nothing more than a normal altercation with Rubel Chaudhary which was unnecessarily hyped up and politicized,” said officials.
According to officials, factors that reinforce the possibility of Shah´s release by Thursday afternoon are: the public offence case was registered as per a police report while the purported victim refused again to lodge any complaint; prosecutors have not found any evidence to prosecute Shah on an arms and ammunition charge and the latter has also altered his statement about weapon use; there is no mention so far of invoking the National Parks Conservation Act or any other law.
Chief District Officer (CDO) Basanta Raj Gautam had ruled to remand Shah, who was not presented in person before the quasi-judicial official, for three days effective from Wednesday when the latter was arrested in Pokhara. He said police would chargesheet the alleged offender within the allocated time and added that he would decide outright "whether to take it to court or issue a verdict".
Asked about the possibility of a charge under the arms and ammunition act, he said he had not received any complaint in that connection. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at District Police Office Chitwan Ravi Raj Khadka said the public offence charge was registered after consulting public prosecutors and the CDO himself. “Any further charge is something that investigations may lead to,” he said, referring to the question about the arms and ammunition charge.
The high-level probe panel led by a deputy inspector general (DIG) did not find any bullet slug from firing at Tiger Tops Lodge. The panel had interrogated two staffers available at the lodge who said they only heard a sound of firing but did not witness the incident.
Shah, a chronic heart patient, seemed likely to be set free under surety by his legal counsel and taken to the capital on Wednesday after he complained of chest pain. An application for that purpose had been prepared with three lawyers standing surety. “We dropped the plan later after he felt some relief,” said Ram Prasad Rijal, one of eight in Shah´s legal counsel led by Shree Prasad Pandit, former apex court registrar.
Chaudhary declined to reappear in Chitwan
Purported victim in the indicent Rubel Chaudhary, the Bangladeshi son-in-law of Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koiral, declined to reappear in Chitwan for recording is statement with prosecutors. He, instead, furnished his statement at the Metropolitan Police Sector Mandhikatar Wednesday afternoon. His statement in English was translated for the police by Sirjana Adhikari, a close aide to Koirala.
DSP Deepak Thapa recorded Chaudhary´s statement and faxed it to Chitwan police late in the afternoon. Shah´s counsel told Republica that their efforts to get through the case on Wednesday did not succeed as Chaudhary´s statement did not turn up on time.
Officials said Chaudhary turned down yet another offer to lodge a FIR with police. “He said he would decide about it after legal consultations,” according to an official.
Supporters prepare celebrations
Supporters of Paras Shah, who abruptly turned up under the name of a certain Rastrabadi Ekta Samuha, obstructed vehicular movement in Bharapur on Wednesday morning. However, they called off other protests after sensing the possibility of Paras´ release on Thursday. “We will stage a rally here after his release, and he will address it. He will be welcomed splendidly in the capital too,” said Madhav Bhandari, who claims to be a central member of the group.
To guesthouse
Shah, 39, was taken to an unidentified guesthouse Wednesday midnight not only because he complained of discomfiture at the police training barracks but also due to his reluctance to be interrogated there.
“He gave his statement after being assured of accommodation at a guesthouse,” said an official. “He will sleep at the guesthouse tonight also.”
(With contributions from Ramesh Paudel and Chandni Hamal in Chitwan.)
Paras gave false statement to police
In denying that he fired a pistol at Tiger Tops in Chitwan, Paras Shah has lied to the police. Paras told the public prosecutor and the high-level probe panel during interrogations that he did not posses any firearm when the Tiger Tops incident happened on Saturday night and there was no question of his firing in the air.
He also denied that he had issued a public statement conceding that he fired in the air with his pistol.
Nagarik daily, our sister publication, had received a statement at 1:14 a.m. on Monday in which Paras admitted firing in the air at Tiger Tops. The statement was printed in Monday´s edition. A fax received at our office from fax number 00977--14419410 mentions ADC Nirmal Niwas as the address where the fax originated.
Republica dialed 197, the telecom´s inquiry section, to check the registered address of fax number 00977-- 14419410. And the address registered at Nepal Telcom says the fax machine belongs to "Royal Palace Secretariat, Maharajgunj".
All these facts clearly prove that the fax statement, in which he admitted to the firing, was issued from Nirmal Niwas, Paras´ residence.
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