The Supreme Court has begun recording the defendants' statements in a contempt of court case against Kantipur Publications. The apex court on Sunday heard the statement of Director Swastika Sirohiya.

According to SC, the statements of Chairman and Managing Director of Kantipur Publi-cations Kailash Sirohiya, Kantipur Editor-in-Chief Sudheer Sharma and journalist Krishna Gyawali will be recorded on Monday.

Kantipur Publications members reached the Supreme Court premises at 11 am on Sunday to record their statements on Sunday. Chairman and Managing Director of Kantipur Publi-cations Kailash Sirohiya, Director Swastika Sirohiya, Kantipur Editor-in-Chief Sudheer Sharma and journalist Krishna Gyawali have been made defendants in the case. 

Earlier on Friday, the members of Kantipur (defendants in this case) had reached the apex court at 2pm on Friday. But the SC decided to postpone the proceedings until 10am on Sunday citing time constraints.

The SC on Wednesday had issued a subpoena to Kantipur in the contempt of court case, ordering four Kantipur members to appear at the court in person within 72 hours of receiving the summon.

A single bench of Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli issued the interim order on February 25, directing the Press Council Nepal to probe the news reports published by Kantipur that highlighted discrepancies in his birth date as shown by his official documents.

National and international journalists’ bodies have condemned the move calling it a clear case of ‘prior censorship’ and against the principle of natural justice which demands that the chief justice stay away from the case involving himself.

Meanwhile, Anti-corruption campaigner Dr Govinda KC on Saturday announced another round of hunger strike from March 13, against CJ Parajuli.

The senior orthopaedic surgeon has put forth a two-point demand including impeachment of Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli and implementation of the report submitted by the high-level commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki, former chairperson of the Special Court, recommending action against top Tribhuvan University officials linked with decisions on medical education.

Journos barred from entering SC

Journalists and photographers have been barred from entering the premises of Supreme Court after members of Kantipur Publications reached the court to record their statements.

Security personnel have stopped media persons from national and international agencies at the gate of the court and barred them from entering the premises.

(Photos: Prakash Timilsena)