SC summons publisher and editor of sidhakura

The Supreme Court has summoned Yuvaraj Kandel, publisher of sidhakura.com, and Navin Dhungana, executive editor, to respond to allegations of contempt of court. 

The case stems from the publication of fake audiovisual news reports defaming a sitting justice, senior advocates, and media personalities. Justices Nahkul Subedi and Tek Prasad Dhungana on Monday ordered Kandel and Dhungana to appear before the court on May 2 at 10 am to justify their dissemination of fake content undermining the independent judiciary.

The Supreme Court initiated a suo moto contempt case against Kandel and Dhungana following fraudulent news reports published on sidhakura.com and its YouTube channel. The reports accused  Justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Chairperson of Annapurna Media Network Capt Rameshwar Thapa, and Chairperson of Kantipur Media Group Kailash Sirohiya, special correspondent of Annapurna Post Surendra Kafle, and senior advocates Hari Upreti and Kishor Bista, among others, of organizing a clandestine meeting to dismiss more than 400 corruption cases.

The apex court has also directed Nepal Police to investigate the matter.

Thapa and Sirohiya have denounced the fake contents, labeling them premeditated and malicious. The press fraternity and regulatory bodies have also expressed concerns over the contents published by sidhakura.com.

Govinda Ghimire, deputy registrar at the Supreme Court, filed a petition on behalf of the Supreme Court on Sunday as per Article 128(4) of the Constitution of Nepal, section 17(1) of the Judicial Administration Act and Supreme Court regulations. The petition demands maximum punishment for the defendants under relevant laws. 

The Supreme Court said that the prima facie finding of the contents published by sidhakura.com suggest that they were created to scandalize the court.     

Meanwhile, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has also urged the authorities concerned to investigate and take action against sidhakura.com.

Issuing a statement on Monday, the anti-graft body said that it is inconceivable for the commission to be involved in any other activities other than following the decision of the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court and investigating and prosecuting complaints within its jurisdiction.

The CIAA also refuted any involvement in misleading activities, as claimed by sidhakura.com.

In response to the contempt case, sidhakura.com has removed the fake videos from its platforms. This move comes after initially refusing to comply with instructions from the Press Council Nepal. 

Press Council Chairman Balkrishna Basnet said they ordered sidhakura.com to take down the audiovisual contents within 24 hours. The contents were suspicious at a first glance, they were clearly biased, not based on any facts, and in violation of the journalistic code of ethics, he added.