Complaint filed against Balen Shah
The complaint, lodged by Dharmaraj Timilsina, alleges that Shah made hateful, misleading, and defamatory statements that violate the election code, existing laws, and democratic electoral processes.
KATHMANDU: A complaint has been filed with the Election Commission against former Kathmandu Mayor and House of Representatives candidate from Jhapa-5, Balen Shah.
The complaint, lodged by Dharmaraj Timilsina, alleges that Shah made hateful, misleading, and defamatory statements that violate the election code, existing laws, and democratic electoral processes.
According to the petition, Shah’s social media remarks in response to a public debate proposed by CPN-UML Chair and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli—intended to be transparent, intellectual, and fact-based—contradicted the spirit of democratic discussion.
The statements in question included claims such as “76 children’s killer,” “terrorist,” and “country burner,” which the complaint says are serious, criminal, and baseless accusations made without court rulings or evidence.
The petition warns that such remarks could severely damage an individual’s social reputation, spread public hatred against legal political parties, and mislead voters. “Irresponsible statements like these undermine the constitutional goal of free, fair, and fearless elections, reducing democratic debate from the level of ideas and policies to violent accusations and rumors,” it states.
The complainant urged the Election Commission to investigate the statements and take necessary action if found in violation of the election code, citing Nepal’s Constitution, electoral code, and laws that prohibit misleading, hateful, or unverified information during elections.
Additionally, the complaint highlighted videos circulating on social media showing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) using vehicles with Indian number plates for election campaigning in Mahottari and other areas, and requested the commission to verify the facts and take action.
