The International Press Institute (IPI) Nepal National Committee has expressed its deep concern at the arrest of Chairman of Kantipur Media Group Kailash Sirohiya from his office.

Nepal Police on Tuesday arrested Sirohiya following an arrest warrant issued by Dhanusha District Court regarding issues with his citizenship certificate.

“However, the timing has raised fears of retaliation as Nepal’s authorities brought the case at a time when Kantipur Publications has been publishing reports about Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in cooperative funds embezzlement,” General Secretary of IPI Nepal Siromani Dhungana said in a statement.

“The circumstances in which Sirohiya was arrested have raised questions on the government's motives and whether the move came in the wake of resorting to vendetta politics aimed at silencing the media house.”

IPI Nepal chapter said it strongly believes that an act of vengeance and misuse of the state power goes against the universal standard of freedom of speech and press. It has called upon the government to abstain from activities that intimidate the media fraternity to write without fear and favour.