Police on Thursday arrested Ram Kumari Jhakri, a leader of the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-Madhav Kumar Nepal faction of Nepal Communist Party, on charges of crime against the state.

She was arrested from her home in Shankhamul, Kathmandu.

According to a police arrest warrant, Jhakri was detained for crime against the state under Clause 58 of the Criminal Code, 2017.

Clause 58(1) of the Criminal Code 2017 states that “no person shall intimidate, whether by using any kind of force or not, show fear or terror to, or otherwise overawe the President or Parliament of Nepal with intent to prevent or restrain the President or Parliament of Nepal from performing any of the functions required to be performed pursuant to the constitution or law or compel the President or Parliament of Nepal to perform the functions in any specific manner.

Superintendent of Police Krishna Prasad Koirala, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Crime Division, said Jhakri has been arrested for interrogation in relation to some remarks she recently made against the President.

“We will take necessary steps after interrogation,”said Koirala.

Police have said Jhakri would be interrogated for making remarks that have been prohibited by the law.

Earlier in the day, the Metropolitan Crime Division had called Jhakri to appear before the division for interrogation. Jhakri, however, had asked police to arrest her from her home by producing an arrest warrant.

Before her arrest, she held a press conference at her residence.

“This step of the government is a restriction on freedom of speech,” she said. “It might also be to harass me because when dictators are about to fall, they use different tricks.”

If found guilty for the crime against the state, a person is liable to a maximum of seven years of jail or Rs 70,000 fine or both.

Clause 58(2) says a person who commits, or causes to be committed, the offence referred to in Sub-section (1) shall be liable to a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or a fine not exceeding Rs 70,000 or with both.

Meanwhile, the Dahal-Nepal faction has issued a press statement, condemning Jhakri’s arrest and demanding her immediate release.