Police Confirm Traffic Action Against Harka Sampang After Viral Riding Video, MP Questions Citation

Kathmandu. A controversy has emerged involving House of Representatives member and Shram Sanskriti Party Chairperson Harka Sampang (Harkaraj Rai) after he challenged the authenticity of a traffic citation circulated online following a motorcycle accident and allegations of reckless riding. 

Sampang was involved in a motorcycle accident a few days ago while returning from Katari in Udayapur. He sustained minor injuries to his hand and other parts of his body. In a video recorded after the incident, he said he lost control of the motorcycle after the vehicle ahead crossed over stones on the road.

However, another video recorded before the accident later surfaced on social media. The footage appeared to show Sampang riding with one hand while using the other to record a selfie video. The video also appeared to show his helmet strap unfastened, drawing criticism from social media users who accused him of violating basic road safety rules.

The incident prompted widespread calls for action, with users questioning whether traffic laws were being applied equally to public officials and ordinary citizens.

Following public complaints and the circulation of the video, the Highway Safety and Traffic Management Office in Itahari took action against Sampang under Section 164(1)(e)(18) of the Vehicle and Transport Management Act, 2049, for negligent driving. Nepal Police announced through its official Facebook page on Monday that legal action had been taken.

Sampang, however, disputed the claim. In social media posts, he suggested that he had not been penalized and accused media outlets of spreading misleading information.

The controversy intensified early Tuesday when Sampang shared a screenshot of the traffic citation issued against him and claimed that he had not paid any fine, alleging that the document itself was "fake."

Documents related to the traffic penalty, however, indicate that a citation was issued in the name of Harkaraj Rai and that a fine of Rs 500 was imposed. The ticket, numbered 8211, was reportedly issued by the Highway Traffic Police in Itahari, Koshi Province.

The records also indicate that the blue book of the privately owned motorcycle involved in the case was taken under police control as part of the legal process.

In a conversation with Techpana, traffic police officials confirmed that the citation had been issued in Sampang's name. While Sampang questioned whether the police themselves had paid the fine, records show that the penalty remains unpaid.

Sampang has also questioned why the name of the officer who issued the ticket was blurred in the publicly circulated copy. According to a traffic police source, the citation was issued by Police Assistant Sub-Inspector Pushkal Shrestha.

The dispute has drawn public attention as Nepal Police maintains that legal action was taken, while the sitting lawmaker continues to deny the legitimacy of the citation. The incident has sparked broader discussions on accountability, traffic law enforcement, and the responsibilities of elected officials.

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