Nepal’s Supreme Court will form an internal investigation committee to probe allegations linking judges with detained middleman Inam Sapkota. The decision was made today, Friday, at a full court meeting chaired by Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma, following demands from the judges themselves.
The Supreme Court Bar Association, a body of lawyers dedicated to judicial independence and integrity, had also called for an impartial investigation. Raman Kumar Karna, secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association, issued a statement expressing concern that recent reports had damaged public trust in the judiciary.
Background
- The Supreme Court Bar Association has stated that recent news linking the Chief Justice and judges has damaged public trust in the judiciary.
- Questions about the judiciary's integrity arose after Justice Hari Prasad Fuyal was revealed to have communicated with Inam Sapkota, who is under investigation for money laundering, via WhatsApp and met him at the Himalaya Hotel.
- The Judges' Code of Conduct, 2074 (BS), prohibits judges from forming unnecessary relationships or contacts that could negatively impact the administration of justice.
- A 2066 (BS) task force of judges had concluded that middlemen were rampant in the judiciary, plaguing the institution.
The Bar Association urged the judiciary to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards incompetence and corruption within its ranks. It also called for strict adherence to the code of conduct governing judges’ relationships, contacts, communications, and meetings.
Allegations and Background
Public trust in the judiciary has been eroded by recent news reports linking the Chief Justice and other judges to Sapkota, who is currently under investigation for money laundering. Questions about the integrity of the judiciary arose after it was revealed that Justice Hari Prasad Fuyal had communicated with Sapkota via WhatsApp and met him at the Himalaya Hotel.
The Judges’ Code of Conduct, 2074 (BS), prohibits judges from forming unnecessary relationships or contacts that could negatively impact the administration of justice. A 2066 (BS) task force of judges had already concluded that middlemen were rampant in the judiciary, plaguing the institution.
The Inam Sapkota Case
The Supreme Court Bar Association stated that recent news connecting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma and Justice Hari Prasad Fuyal to Sapkota has severely damaged public confidence in the judiciary. The revelation of Justice Fuyal’s WhatsApp conversations and meeting with Inam Sapkota, who is under investigation for money laundering, has raised serious questions about the court’s dignity.
Justice Fuyal has admitted to communicating with Sapkota but denies discussing any court cases. He also claimed that he was not the only judge to meet Sapkota, suggesting other judges had collective meetings with him. The District Government Attorney’s Office has requested CCTV footage from the Himalaya Hotel, where Fuyal reportedly met Sapkota. According to high-level sources, seven judges and court staff, including Senior Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla, were also present at the Himalaya Hotel with Fuyal on that day.
Inam Sapkota has been in police custody for 18 days on charges of being a middleman. Police have found communications indicating that Sapkota, a US Green Card holder, promised to fix court cases and assist in the promotion of police officers. Sapkota’s mobile phone records show contacts with former Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana, security officials, politically connected individuals, and detained businessmen. Investigations are ongoing into Sapkota’s foreign assets, financial transactions, and information exchange with security officials. The Supreme Court has already dismissed Sapkota’s habeas corpus petition seeking his release from custody.
In connection with this case, Additional Inspector General (AIG) Banshiraj Dahal of the Armed Police Force lost his job after an investigation committee was formed due to his connections with Sapkota.
Further Demands and Next Steps
The Supreme Court Bar Association concluded that disputes over the formation of constitutional benches, external interference in judicial processes, and the increasing involvement of middlemen in the administration of justice have diminished the institutional credibility of the judiciary and public trust. The Bar Association has also demanded that four judges be selected by lottery for the constitutional bench, including the Chief Justice.
The Supreme Court’s full court meeting will reconvene on Monday. The Bar Association has strongly demanded an impartial investigation into the Inam Sapkota case and the public disclosure of the truth.
