The Rastriya Swatantra Party RSP is investigating lawmaker Khagendra Sunar following the release of a controversial audio recording on social media. The party alleges that the recording contains Sunar threatening and verbally abusing a woman.
RSP Chief Whip Kabindra Burlakoti announced that the party’s Central Disciplinary Commission has been tasked with the investigation and is currently gathering evidence.
The audio, released on Monday, reportedly shows Sunar’s abusive language toward a woman. The party has initiated an internal inquiry and has advised Sunar to avoid public appearances while the investigation is ongoing.
RSP’s Disciplinary Commission Gathers Evidence
Harichandra Bhattarai, deputy chief of the RSP’s disciplinary commission, confirmed that they are collecting evidence and attempting to contact both Sunar and the woman involved in the allegations.
Bhattarai emphasized the seriousness of the recording’s content and stated that the commission will review the information thoroughly before making any conclusions.
Sunar, who is currently outside of Kathmandu, expressed his willingness to share his side of the story and maintain that those accused should be allowed to present their version of events.
The investigation seeks to verify the authenticity of the recording and clarify the facts surrounding the situation.
Khagendra Sunar Claims Audio Is Not Authentic
Sunar has denied that the voice in the recording is his, asserting that the audio and related materials shared online are fabricated.
In a Facebook video, he expressed readiness to answer public questions and cooperate with both the party and state investigations.
Sunar suggested that technologies like artificial intelligence or voice cloning could have been used to frame him and accused the police of targeting him due to his inquiries about corruption.
His claims remain unverified, with the authenticity of the recording being a crucial point for investigators.
RSP Commits to Accountability
RSP General Secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya stated that the allegations are serious and instructed Sunar not to attend official events until the internal investigation is complete.
Parliamentary whip Prakash Chandra Pariyar reinforced the party’s commitment to uphold the law, stating they will not protect anyone found guilty of wrongdoing.
Burlakoti added that state agencies should also conduct their investigations to determine if any laws were broken. The RSP is dedicated to cooperating with any inquiries.
Police Await Formal Complaint
As the RSP’s internal investigation proceeds, a separate criminal investigation by the police has not yet begun. Police are awaiting a formal complaint to initiate their investigation.
This criminal inquiry would be independent of the RSP’s internal process. The disciplinary commission is following party protocols, while any state agency will assess whether the evidence is sufficient for legal action.
This case raises important questions about accountability for elected officials and underscores the need for verifying publicly shared audio before making judgments.
For now, the RSP is focused on gathering evidence and reaching out to those involved. The authenticity of the recording and the alleged misconduct remain unproven, and conclusions should be reserved until the investigation concludes.