CPN-UML central member Ain Mahar has been released shortly after being taken into custody.
Mahar, accused of violating Section 47 of the Electronic Transactions Act, was released on date on Wednesday afternoon.
District Attorney Gokul Bahadur Niraula, spokesperson for the District Government Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu, told Setopati that Mahar was released on date after his statement-recording was completed.
Mahara was arrested on Wednesday morning following a complaint filed by a 29-year-old woman at the Cyber Bureau, accusing Mahar of character assassination.
The woman had sent the complaint to the police office by post on August 19. She told Setopati that the bureau called her to verify the complaint on August 24.
"Mahar had posted a 51-minute, 47-second video on social media using abusive language. He has removed it after a complaint was filed with the police," the woman said. "I have kept that video safe."
The woman has accused Mahar and his family of posting videos and photos on social media using abusive language and leveling various allegations against her.
She filed the complaint demanding action against Mahar under Section 47 of the Electronic Transactions Act for the offense of character assassination.
“If any person publishes or displays any material in the electronic media including computer, internet which are prohibited to publish or display by the prevailing law or which may be contrary to the public morality or decent behavior or any types of materials which may spread hate or jealousy against anyone or which may jeopardize the harmonious relations subsisting among the peoples of various castes, tribes and communities, shall be liable to punishment with a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand rupees or with imprisonment not exceeding five years or with both,” Section 47 (1) of the Act states.
If any person repeatedly commits an offense referred to in sub-section (1), they shall be liable to punishment for each time with one and half of the punishment of the previous punishment, according to Section 47 (2).
After her complaint was registered, the Kathmandu District Court granted permission on August 25 to arrest Mahar for investigation.
Earlier, the woman had lodged a complaint with the police, accusing Mahar of raping her. Initially, the police refused to register the complaint, but the Patan High Court later ordered an investigation into the matter.
Before that, the woman herself had been arrested under the Electronic Transactions Act after Mahar accused her of character assassination.
The UML had suspended Mahar from the position of central member by the UML, raising questions about his conduct. Later, his suspension was lifted before the by-election in the Bajhang provincial assembly constituency.
A permanent resident of Bajhang, Mahar is also a former chairman of the ANNFSU close to the UML. In the 2022 election, the UML had fielded Mahar as its candidate for the House of Representatives from Bajhang, but he was defeated by Bhanubhakta Joshi of the CPN (Unified Socialist).
