Nepal Police chief Dan Bahadur Karki convened an emergency and unusually lengthy meeting of senior officers on Thursday, amid rumours that the government was preparing to remove him from office.

The policy coordination committee meeting at the police headquarters in Naxal, Kathmandu, ran from 2pm to 7pm. It brought together senior superintendents of police, deputy inspectors general and officials of higher ranks serving in the Capital. Officials said the meeting lasted longer than previous policy coordination sessions as participants raised questions and offered their views.

Deputy Inspector General Abi Narayan Kafle, the central police spokesperson, said officers discussed the current law and order situation, contemporary issues and subjects circulating on social media.

“Everyone’s views on the issue were heard,” he told Kantipur. Kafle said that participants discussed what they considered deliberate attempts to spread misleading information and undermine the force’s reputation, professionalism and performance.

A statement issued after the meeting said the organisation would investigate and take legal action against those attempting to drag the law enforcement agency into controversy. “Some individuals believe they can act against the government by drawing the security agency into controversy,” it said, adding that action would proceed under prevailing laws.

The meeting came amid reports that the government wanted Karki to step down. Some officials at the Prime Minister’s Office are reportedly dissatisfied with his handling of investigations involving high-profile figures, particularly his insistence on following the legal procedure of arrest.

Karki has also faced public allegations from Khagendra Sunar, a lawmaker from the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, over alleged irregularities in the purchase of uniform for temporary recruits deployed for the March 5 election. The Public Accounts Committee has formed a subcommittee led by RSP lawmaker Manish Jha to examine the procurement.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged about conversations between Karki and Inam Sapkota, a middleman under investigation for allegations related to money laundering and banking offences. Sapkota reportedly has cultivated relationships with judges, senior Nepal Police and Armed Police Force officials, lawyers and ruling party leaders, claiming his close links to the prime minister and the US embassy.

According to an officer who attended Thursday’s meeting, Karki said the force was facing attacks and urged colleagues to remain united. He also named some suspects outside the organisation and warned officers against taking internal matters outside, the officer said.

Participants discussed whether they should approach the Prime Minister’s Office to clarify issues raised publicly. Most agreed that officers should act together when the institution’s standing was at stake, the participant said. Others argued that individuals should answer allegations concerning them personally, while the police organisation should respond to matters affecting the force as a whole.

One senior officer asked Karki whether anyone in the government had asked him to resign. Karki, according to a participant, replied that the reports were untrue and that nobody had asked him to step down.

“The decision was that everyone would stand together to protect the organisation’s image and reputation and ensure that law and order is not affected,” the officer said.

On Wednesday, Karki addressed police chiefs from the Kathmandu valley, provincial police offices, training centres and district offices through a virtual meeting, taking his remarks down to inspector-level office chiefs.

Karki warned officers not to turn against colleagues, alleging that relations among officers of the same batch had also become less cordial. At Thursday’s meeting, he reiterated that associating with people of poor conduct would not benefit officers.

He also objected to matters under investigation being disclosed publicly. Karki was promoted to inspector general on November 10, 2025, by the government led by Sushila Karki. Additional inspectors general Rajan Adhikari, Manoj KC and Siddhi Bikram Shah had also been in contention. Karki, Adhikari and KC joined the force as inspectors in 1997. Shah was transferred from the National Investigation Department. If the 30-year service limit remains in place, Karki’s tenure as police chief will end in mid-April 2028.