Friday, January 16th, 2026

CIB arrests Navaraj Aryal, who claims to be an eyewitness to Nirmala murder case; Rishi Dhamala interrogated



KATHMANDU: Navaraj Aryal from Gorkha, who claimed to have witnessed the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta in Kanchanpur in July 2018, has been detained by the police.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) interrogated Aryal and released him on bail after he publicly stated on television that he had been an eyewitness to the incident.

CIB Information Officer, Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati, stated that Aryal, his wife, and Rishi Dhamala, the presenter of Prime Time Television’s “Janata Janna Chahanchan”, were being questioned further on Wednesday as part of the ongoing investigation.

“All the details Aryal claimed on television are false,” said SP Bogati. “We have brought Aryal, his wife, and presenter Dhamala to the CIB for further investigation.”

In an interview with Rishi Dhamala on Prime Television, Aryal had claimed that he personally witnessed the rape of Nirmala Panta.

He further claimed that three individuals were involved in the murder and that he knew them. His interview has since gone viral.

Aryal also asserted that he saw the incident firsthand while driving the car of Bina Magar, the former Water Supply Minister.

According to Aryal, this happened while he was in Kanchanpur, and he made it clear that he did not care about the incident even though he allegedly saw it while driving the minister’s vehicle.

Publish Date : 13 November 2024 15:29 PM

Two killed, one critically injured in separate road accidents in Jhapa and Nawalparasi

KATHMANDU: Two people have lost their lives and one has

Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah calls for honest leadership and long-term vision for Nepal

KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor and senior leader of the

Acting NC President Purna Bahadur Khadka to address press conference today

KATHMANDU: Acting President of the Nepali Congress Purna Bahadur Khadka

Petrol and diesel prices down

KATHMANDU: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has revised the prices of

Economic Digest: Nepal’s Business News in a Snap

KATHMANDU: Economic Digest offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of