The ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party has launched an internal investigation into allegations of abuse, threats and suspicious financial dealings involving its lawmaker and central committee member Khagendra Sunar after audio recordings became public. The party has directed him not to perform duties in either capacity while its disciplinary commission investigates.

The party’s response contrasts with that of state investigation and law enforcement agencies, which have yet to begin a formal criminal investigation. Police say they are awaiting a complaint from the alleged victim, although they are making preliminary inquiries into material circulating in the media.

The controversy intensified after Jana Aastha weekly published a report on Monday titled ‘RSP lawmaker Khagendra Sunar in another controversy: threats to kill former minister, extortion’, accompanied by audio recordings and details of alleged banking transactions. The report says that Sunar used obscene language against a woman, demanded money and threatened to kill her. It also alleged that he had lured her with the promise of marriage, obtained explicit videos and photographs, and blackmailed her.

The allegations remain unproven, and Sunar denies that the voice in the recordings is his.

On Tuesday morning, the RSP issued a statement describing the allegations as serious and sensitive. Released by party general secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya after discussions among senior leaders under party chair Rabi Lamichhane, the statement said the party would not treat allegations of this nature against any member or elected representative lightly.

“Matters such as actions that undermine women’s dignity and respect, undue pressure, unwanted threats, and suspicious financial transactions, which have emerged as allegations through the media, are extremely serious and sensitive,” reads the statement.

It added that the party has a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment of women, abuse of public office and criminal offences. The central disciplinary commission was instructed to begin an inquiry immediately.

Sunar was also told not to participate in official functions and events as a public representative until the inquiry was completed. The party said the restriction was intended to protect the investigation and uphold public standards.

RSP chief whip Kabindra Burlakoti said the party had referred the matter to its disciplinary body.

“Since some evidence has emerged publicly in this case, it needs to be examined to establish whether it is genuine. That is why we have sent it to the party’s disciplinary commission,” said Burlakoti. He added that the party would cooperate if state agencies conducted their own investigation and that strict action would follow if Sunar was found guilty.

Prakash Chandra Pariyar, the party whip, said the consequences could include removal from both his parliamentary position and party membership.

“The RSP will not follow one individual regardless of the circumstances,” said Pariyar. The party statute allowed measures ranging from suspension to a right-to-recall process, if necessary, he said, adding that action would depend on the findings.

Sunar, however, has claimed that the recordings were generated using artificial intelligence and that he was being targeted for raising questions about corruption and irregularities within Nepal Police. In a video statement from Dang, he denied being the person heard in the audio.

“The person heard in the audio circulating on social media is not me. I have neither said nor done these things,” he claimed. He alleged that people were trying to frame him using AI-generated material or impersonation. Sunar said he was willing to face any investigation by his party, parliament, or the government.

After Sunar challenged the recordings’ authenticity, Jana Aastha published another clip under the headline ‘Is this really AI, honourable MP?’ The publication claimed the recording contained further threats and obscene abuse directed at the woman and her son. The recordings’ authenticity has not been independently verified.

The woman allegedly targeted by Sunar has been identified in reports as a former member of the Bagmati provincial cabinet led by then chief minister Rajendra Pandey. Speaking to Kantipur, Pandey said security personnel had informed him about a family dispute involving a former minister.

“One of the security personnel assigned to my protection told me that a minister was having disputes with her husband. I didn’t know who her husband was, but I was told that their relationship was poor and that she was being beaten,” said Pandey. He said he had called the former minister and advised her to avoid quarrelling with her husband.

Despite public demands for an investigation, police say they need a formal complaint to initiate proceedings under the relevant law. The alleged victim’s present condition is unclear, and authorities have not publicly established whether she has approached investigators.

“Certain legal requirements must be met to conduct a formal investigation. We have to proceed in accordance with the law once a complaint is filed,” police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle told Kantipur. “Nevertheless, we are making inquiries through various channels into the issues that have emerged in public.”

Kafle said that, if a complaint were lodged, investigators could examine whether the audio was genuine and take further steps, including arresting the person concerned if legally justified.

Advocate Radhika Khatiwada said that if the recordings were authenticated and shown to feature Sunar, investigators could consider an offence under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2006. The alleged victim could also pursue a defamation claim directly through the courts, she said.

“To initiate a criminal case under the Electronic Transactions Act, someone claiming to be a victim needs to file a complaint,” said Khatiwada. She added that a parent or relative could file one if a minor child’s voice was also heard. Depending on the circumstances, proceedings involving minors, people without guardians or persons with disabilities may sometimes be initiated on the basis of a police report.

Sunar was elected to the House of Representatives from Banke constituency 3. Before joining the RSP, he formed Hamro Party Nepal and campaigned for Dalit rights and empowerment.

Sunar is a member of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee and had exchanged sharp remarks with Nepal Police Chief Dan Bahadur Karki during a parliamentary committee meeting in August.

Sunar also dragged into controversies earlier over alleged abuse, verbal attacks

This is not the first time Sunar has been embroiled in controversy. He faced several allegations after joining politics. Following the Gen Z protests, he was considered for the post of labour, employment and social security minister in the interim government led by Sushila Karki. However, his name was dropped after reports emerged that cases had been filed against him and that he was listed as a fugitive defendant.

A case involving vandalism at a health facility and assault on health workers was filed at Surkhet District Court. An arrest warrant was issued in July 2024, giving seven days for his arrest and ordering authorities to produce him before the court within 35 days.

Dr Sojan Sapkota, chief of Mehelkuna Hospital in Surkhet, had filed a complaint against Sunar. Police records also showed cases registered in Surkhet and Kavrepalanchok.

In Kavrepalanchok, advocate Manisha Gautam filed a cybercrime complaint alleging that Sunar had verbally abused her on Facebook. After police could not locate him, they forwarded the case to prosecutors, and a court issued arrest warrant against him.