Rana Requests Police Protection for Family Following Overnight Detention

Former chief justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana has sought increased police protection for himself and his family, citing security concerns after being detained at a police office for about 12 hours following his removal from his Kathmandu residence shortly after midnight. A written request signed by his son, Sachindra Shumsher Rana, was registered at the Kathmandu Valley Police Office in Ranipokhari on Monday. Deputy Inspector General Govinda Thapaliya confirmed that the request had been received and said Rana was under police watch at his residence. In the request, Rana said he felt a threat to his safety and that of his family amid the country’s situation and questions raised on social media and in the media. He also referred to responsibilities he previously held in state institutions and judicial decisions made while serving as head of the country’s judiciary. Rana asked security agencies to ensure the safety of his residence, family and himself. The request followed an incident early Sunday when a team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office took Rana from his home in Maharajgunj. Police reportedly told him that he faced a security threat, but his family was not shown an arrest warrant and authorities did not specify any offence. Rana was held at the crime investigation office for roughly 12 hours before being released to his family at around 2pm. Police later said he had been taken there for his protection. However, authorities have not identified the alleged threat, clarified when they became aware of it, or explained why a crime investigation unit was used for what they described as a protective operation. Questions have also been raised over who authorised the deployment and the legal basis for taking Rana from his residence and keeping him at the police office. The episode has prompted scrutiny because Rana was already receiving round-the-clock security as a former chief justice. Former police officials and former chief justices have said that, if a genuine security threat existed, strengthening protection at his residence would ordinarily be considered. The National Human Rights Commission sought access to Rana. Rana served as Nepal’s 29th chief justice from January 2019 and was suspended after an impeachment motion was registered against him in February 2022. He retired in December 2022 while the impeachment process remained unresolved. Earlier this month, a Constitutional Bench led by Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma dismissed four writ petitions concerning the impea