Mahiman Singh Bista, the Supreme Court officer who caused controversy by sending Resham Chaudhary back to jail with an unexpected arrest note, has finally spoken up. After being released on bail this week, he shared why he took this bold step—claiming it was for the peace of the souls of those killed during the Tikapur incident.
Bista was released from custody after the Kathmandu District Court allowed him to post bail of NPR 1 lakh. He had been arrested for writing and sending a jail order against Chaudhary without formal authorization, causing a major legal and political uproar.
In his statement, Bista said he acted out of moral responsibility, stating that Resham Chaudhary’s crime was brutal and unforgivable. He claimed the state ignored laws that prevent pardoning life sentences, accusing the government of misusing legal power for political gains.
He referenced the 2015 Tikapur violence during the Tharuhat and Akhanda Sudurpaschim movements, which led to the deaths of 8 police officers and a child. Chaudhary, the main accused, had been sentenced to life in prison but was later pardoned by the President. Bista questioned this move, noting that full court verdicts had not even been published when the pardon was granted.
Bista argued that the pardon ignored legal procedure and justice for the victims’ families. He said he chose the timing—when Chaudhary’s party was merging with another—to make his move easier, and he issued the jail note personally with help from security forces.
In a powerful claim, he said, “This is not political. I did this because the souls of the nine people who died deserve peace. Their pain must not be ignored just to protect a powerful man.”
He also insisted that, legally, his jail note was valid and within his rights as a branch officer under the court’s rules. He accused the government of ignoring the “Blood Money” concerns of the victims’ families and using power only for political gain.
Bista concluded by stating he acted under the law, not pressure, and would take full responsibility for his actions, describing Chaudhary as a dangerous and highly educated career criminal.
