The Kathmandu District Court issued an interim order on June 10 directing online news portals Nepal Khabar and Bizmandu to immediately delete articles allegedly defaming Santosh Narayan Shrestha, chairperson of the Securities Board of Nepal, and to refrain from further reporting on the matter. The reports alleged Shrestha demanded commissions in exchange for approving infrastructure projects in Nepal, implicating him in bribery.

Shrestha filed two petitions on June 9 seeking to remove the articles, arguing they were defamatory and severely damaging to his personal and professional reputation. In its decision, the court stated, “News articles under various headlines have harmed the petitioner’s dignity and reputation, and the publication of such defamatory content has caused irreparable damage.” A hearing has been scheduled for June 18 to allow the outlets to respond.

Both outlets have rejected the allegations, calling the court’s order a direct threat to press freedom in Nepal. In a statement, Bizmandu said, “The court order is challengeable in terms of the Constitution of Nepal, the prevailing journalistic code of conduct, and Nepal’s international commitments,” while Nepal Khabar stated, “Any attempt to silence, intimidate, or divert attention from the free press through litigation under any pretext is unacceptable.”

Both the FNJ and NPU condemned the court’s decision and emphasised that the order contradicts both Nepal’s constitutional provisions and international principles on media freedom, warning that unless reconsidered, the judiciary could face further legal challenges.

The same day, Kathmandu District Court, issued an arrest warrant for senior journalist Dil Bhusan Pathak under Section 47 of the Electronic Transactions Act. The warrant followed a complaint from Nepal Police’s Cyber Bureau regarding a video published on May 17 on his YouTube channel, Tough Talk with Dil Bhusan Pathak, in which Pathak reported that Jaiveer Deuba, the son of Nepal’s Congress President and Foreign Minister, had purchased the Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu, allegedly leveraging political influence for personal gain.

Local authorities attempted to arrest Pathak at his residence on June 11, but he was not home at the time with his mobile phone switched off. Pathak criticised the legal action against him as a blatant overreach, questioning the decision to bypass the press council and prosecute under criminal law. The warrant was challenged by Patan High Court on June 16, which issued an interim order preventing authorities from arresting the journalist without legal grounds.

The NPU said: “The interim order issued by the court to delete news without verifying its facts undermines the spirit of digital publication and contradicts constitutional principles. Likewise, the issuance of an arrest warrant against journalist Dil Bhusan Pathak has caused fear and concern in the media sector. Filing a case against a journalist under Section 47 of the Electronic Transaction Act, rather than through laws designed to regulate journalism, is highly objectionable. The Union urges the concerned authorities to immediately withdraw the arrest warrant.”

The FNJ said: “The FNJ expresses its objection to this court order as it is against the provisions and spirit of the Constitution of Nepal, and the prevailing norms and practices of press freedom. The constitutional provision of press freedom cannot be limited by any order of anybody. The Federation urges the concerned body to reconsider the said order; otherwise, it will be forced to take legal action and other activities against it.”

The IFJ said: “The Kathmandu District Court’s move to target media outlets and journalists for reporting on corruption cases in the public interest starkly contradicts democratic principles and the constitutionally enshrined right to press freedom in Nepal. The IFJ calls on the authorities to drop all cases against Nepal Khabar, Bizmandu, and Dil Bhusan Pathak and ensure it safeguards the right to independent and critical reporting.”