Sunday, January 18th, 2026

RSP central member Thapa steps down after U.S. arrest



KATHMANDU: Mohan Jung Thapa, a central member of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has been detained by U.S. immigration authorities, leading him to step down from his party responsibilities.

Thapa was arrested at Pennsylvania Airport last week while traveling from Nepal to the U.S. and is currently held at the Philadelphia Federal Detention Center. The exact charges against him remain unclear, but reports suggest he had a history of controversial activities while in the U.S.

RSP acting spokesperson Manish Jha confirmed that Thapa had already submitted a request to step down, citing personal legal issues that he needed to resolve.

Thapa, known as a close ally of party chair Rabi Lamichhane, had previously faced legal trouble in the U.S. over misuse of a driver’s license, which led to the revocation of his American citizenship. He currently holds a U.S. Green Card.

In the past, Thapa had also made headlines for his anti-government protests, including a social media post urging people to disrupt former PM KP Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba’s visit to New York for the UN General Assembly.

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