CPN Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has revealed that former speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara lied to him about attempting to rape federal parliament secretariat staffer Roshni Shahi.
Addressing an interaction program organized by Press Center, Dang in Ghorahi, former PM Dahal added that Mahara covered up the incident when he sent leaders Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi to talk to Mahara the day after the incident became public.
He claimed that Mahara lied even to him when he visited the latter to talk about the incident. "I myself went to him. But he did not speak truth even then," he added. "That he committed a mistake was established. I told him to resign without ifs and buts and he resigned immediately."
Dahal opined that Mahara committed a big mistake in terms of behavior and morality in the episode. He added that the Mahara episode will correct not just individuals but even national-level VVIPs.
He also expressed confidence in the judiciary to take a fair decision on the case.
The Kathmandu District Court on Monday sent Mahara to prison for judicial custody. Mahara, who was at Norvic International Hospital since October 10 after being admitted for complaints of hypertension, was sent to Dillibazar Jail by the bench of Justice Sudarshan Raj Pandey.
The hearing on whether to move the case of attempted rape against Mahara forward keeping him in custody or release him on date or bail had started on Sunday continued on Monday
Four public prosecutors including chief district government attorney of Kathmandu Chandra Kanta Khanal, district attorneys Uma Kanta Puadel and Hari Regmi, and deputy district attorney Srijana Dhakal demanded on Sunday that Mahara be kept in custody for investigation.
Senior advocate Lav Mainali, former attorney general Raman Shrestha and others pleaded on Mahara's behalf.
Former speaker Mahara was arrested on October 6 on charge of attempting to rape federal parliament secretariat staffer Roshni Shahi at her rented apartment on September 29.
Recording of Mahara's statement was completed on Friday. He has claimed that he reached near Shahi's apartment that evening but did not meet the victim.
Shahi had claimed an inebriated Mahara reached her rented apartment in Tinkune with a bottle of whiskey when there was no one else in the apartment and raped her.
She had called the police within an hour of the alleged incident and a team from Metropolitan Police Circle, New Baneshwore had immediately reached her rented apartment in Tinkune and recorded details from her.
The video statement recorded by the police at the site of incident that night has been considered the strongest evidence in the charge-sheet filed with the court.
Shahi claimed, in the video interview given to journalist Ajay Babu Shiwakoti the next day, that Mahara hurriedly went out after she threatened to complain to police.
The police had recovered broken spectacles and insole of shoe from Shahi's apartment on the night of incident. Tests have showed the power of recovered spectacles is similar to that used by Mahara. This is the second strongest evidence against Mahara.
