Second audiotape of RSP lawmaker Shrestha released

Published On: April 11, 2023 12:00 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, April 11: A second audiotape of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Dhaka Kumar Shrestha, who is said to have demanded Rs 20 million from medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai, has gone viral on social media.

In the second audiotape, a conversation between Durga Prasai and a person who claims to be Dhaka Kumar Shrestha's brother can be heard. The person in question is heard asking Durga Prasai for an appointment saying that lawmaker Shrestha wanted to meet him.

A person calling himself Dhaka Kumar's brother tells Prasai on the phone that the party will now take action. "My brother will not even be an ordinary member of the party, the position of MP will also be scrapped. Brother has been a victim of deception. You have to find a way out on this matter," he is heard saying.

Then Prasain says that it is the fault of Rabi Lamichhane instead of Dhaka Kumar and he is ready to help Dhaka Kumar. Then the person who says he is Dhaka Kumar's brother says, “My brother wants to meet you. Where are you now?”

Prasai says,“I am at a program in Birgunj today. Please tell him to meet me in the evening.”

The man, who identifies himself as Dhaka Kumar's brother, tells Prasai that he called him because his brother had asked to talk to him.

In the audiotape published on the YouTube channel of Kapurbot.com, the phone number given to Durga Prasai by a person calling himself Dhaka Kumar's brother is shown.

Also, there is another clip of a phone conversation with Yadu Gautam, Durga Prasai's associate. The person who called Gautam hoped that Durga Prasai would have said something positive about the audiotape episode. He has also expected mediation from Yadu Gautam for that.

Kapurbot claimed that Dhaka Kumar Shrestha was the person who called Gautam expecting mediation.

In the earlier audio, the person identifying himself as Dhaka Kumar Shrestha had asked Durga Prasai for money saying that he had to pay Rs 20 million to the core team of the party to become the health minister.

As soon as the audio was released, the RSP suspended Dhaka Kumar from the party and started an investigation. Meanwhile, Dhaka Kumar has said that the voice in the audiotape was doctored.