Bhaktapur Man Faces Court Over Alleged Facebook Harassment; Accused Says Fake ID Was Used

 

Kathmandu. The District Public Prosecutor's Office has filed a case at the Kathmandu District Court against a man accused of repeatedly abusing and defaming a woman through Facebook Messenger.

The case was registered a few days ago based on an investigation report submitted by the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police. The defendant, Mangal Bahadur Thapa, has been charged under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2063, for sending obscene and defamatory messages to Shobha Pathak.

Thapa, 32, is originally from Gadaraya-1, Bajhang district, now Ward No. 7 of Khaptadchhanna Rural Municipality, and currently resides in Ward No. 7 of Suryabinayak Municipality, Bhaktapur.

Police have yet to arrest Thapa, and he has been listed as a fugitive.

However, speaking to TechPana, Thapa denied involvement, claiming the messages were sent through a fake Facebook account impersonating him.

"I had gone to my village after my father's death. That may be why I was listed as absconding," Thapa said. "The messages were sent from a fake ID. I have already submitted a petition to the court informing it of this."

According to the charge sheet, Thapa continuously harassed and defamed the victim through Facebook Messenger using a profile named "Mangal Thapa."

The prosecution states that the account sent highly offensive, vulgar, and obscene messages containing serious allegations against the victim. The complaint argues that the repeated abuse affected the victim's personal, family, and social life, causing significant mental distress.

The Cyber Bureau's investigation identifies screenshots of the Messenger conversations submitted by the complainant as key evidence.

Investigators also confirmed that the mobile number allegedly used to operate the Facebook account was registered in the name of Mangal Bahadur Thapa.

The prosecution has sought legal action against Thapa under Section 47(1) of the Electronic Transactions Act, 2063. The provision allows for a fine of up to Rs 100,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both, for using electronic systems to harass, insult, or commit similar inappropriate acts against women.

The charge sheet further requests the court to order reasonable compensation to the victim under Sections 58(a) and 76 of the Act. It has also sought an order under Section 41 of the Crime Victim Protection Act, 2075, requiring compensation to be deposited into the victim relief fund.

During the investigation, the Cyber Bureau sent arrest requests to the district police offices in Bajhang and Bhaktapur. However, Thapa has not yet been taken into custody.

As he remains at large, prosecutors have filed the case against him as an absconding defendant under Section 57 of the Muluki Criminal Procedure Code, 2074, and have requested the court to proceed with the case in accordance with the law.

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