Court Sends Aarti Rawal to Jail Pending Trial Over Offensive Facebook Posts Against Supreme Court Judges
साउन ८, २०८३ १६:४७
Kathmandu. The Kathmandu District Court has ordered Aarti Rawal (Giri) to be remanded in judicial custody pending trial in an electronic crime case involving allegedly defamatory and abusive social media posts targeting Supreme Court judges.
A bench of Judge Umanath Gautam issued the order on Wednesday under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2006, directing that Rawal be sent to the Central Jail Office, Jagannathdewal, until the case is concluded.
According to the charge sheet, Rawal allegedly used her Facebook account, 'Rawal Aarti,' to post photographs of Supreme Court Justices Binod Sharma and Bal Krishna Dhakal alongside abusive, obscene, and defamatory remarks. The court order states that the posts contained "obscene, inhumane, indecent and insulting expressions" that undermined the dignity of the judiciary and spread hatred toward the court. Prosecutors also alleged that Rawal posted videos and messages containing threats and abusive language directed at the judges.
During the bail hearing, Rawal argued that the Facebook account had been hacked by her former husband, Judge Bhuwan Giri, and claimed that he was responsible for the posts. However, the court found that the police's technical investigation and other available evidence did not support her claim.
The order states that, based on the evidence currently available and the seriousness of the allegations, the court could not conclude at this stage that the accused was not involved in the offense. Citing Section 72 of the Muluki Faujdari Karyabidhi Samhita 2074, the court ordered her detention during trial.
In the same case, the court granted bail of Rs 100,000 to co-defendant Neema R.C., who is accused of assisting Rawal and sharing misleading content through her Facebook account, 'RC Neema.' The court considered the fact that Neema has an infant and had cooperated during the investigation by providing a statement.
Rawal, the former wife of District Judge Bhuwan Giri, had been staging protests at locations including Maitighar, seeking justice in a marital rape case. After the Supreme Court acquitted Giri, she began a social media campaign criticizing the judges involved in the verdict. The Cyber Bureau subsequently arrested her following a complaint from the Supreme Court, alleging that her online activities had crossed legal boundaries.
Following the court's order, Rawal has been transferred to the women's prison at Jagannathdewal, where she will remain in custody until a final verdict is delivered. The court has also directed the government prosecutor's office to present additional witnesses at the next hearing.
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: साउन ८, २०८३ १६:४७
