Kathmandu: A man claiming to be an eyewitness to the Nirmala Panta murder case has been arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) for making false statements. The suspect, Navraj Aryal from Gorkha, was detained by a team from the CIB.
Aryal had earlier given an interview in which he claimed to have witnessed the rape and murder of Nirmala Pant in Kanchanpur. He alleged that he saw the crime unfold while he was in the area, and he described himself as a driver working for the Department of Drinking Water.
In his interview, Aryal described in vivid detail how he allegedly witnessed Nirmala’s rape, a statement that has raised serious concerns as the investigation into her death continues. The police have stated that these claims were part of a larger misinformation campaign.
In addition to Aryal’s arrest, the television program host, Rishi Dhimal, who conducted the interview, has also been summoned by the CIB for questioning. Authorities have indicated that they will investigate whether the television segment contributed to spreading false information about the case.
The Nirmala Panta murder case, which has attracted widespread attention and public outcry, remains under investigation, with the authorities working to verify all claims and evidence.