Harvard University alumni today asked the government to immediately release Dr Roop Jyoti and his family members from imprisonment.
Dr Jyoti was arrested from Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) upon his return from Singapore on November 7. “Independent press reports suggest that Dr Roop Jyoti was charged for a crime he was not involved in," reads a press note released by Nepali students and alumni members of Harvard University. "A multi-year and multi-party business dispute that should and could have been settled via a mediation or arbitration process appears to have been blown out of proportion into a criminal offence - targeting Dr Roop Jyoti and resulting in his arrest," the press note reads, adding that they are troubled by media reports, which suggest that Dr Jyoti is being harassed because he refused to succumb to extortion.
“We demand that the authorities investigate this charge,” reads the press note signed by more than two dozen Nepal students from Harvard University and alumni members.
Expressing their hopes that the rule of law will prevail, the alumni members, said, "While we expect the rule of law to prevail and to take its course, the circumstances and the manner in which Dr Jyoti and his family are being treated appear to be arbitrary, disproportionate and unfair.”
The alumni members also strongly urged the government to free Dr Jyoti and his family members. “As not doing so would send an adverse signal that the authorities in Nepal can arrest anyone under any pretext, thereby ruining the person’s reputation, damaging the worth of their societal contributions, and casting a chill in the way that civil society and the private sector operate with rights and privileges granted by the Constitution of Nepal," the press note further reads.
Renowned businessman, philanthropist and Vipassana meditation teacher, Dr Roop Jyoti, who completed his PHD from the prestigious Harvard University in 1999, is currently under police custody due to a case filed by Bigendra Krishna Malla against him.
However, Malla yesterday took his case back saying that he does not want to move to Court. The Police might release Dr Jyoti tomorrow. But the surprise arrest of Dr Jyoti – under the charge of fraud that is not criminal offence – has raised eyebrows of all quarters. The unlikely fast move of Nepal's police and the ‘suspected involvement’ of government in the case has also sent a negative message to the investors, domestic and foreign. The 'treatment' to the eight-decade old Jyoti Group has also terrorised the private sector. The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal Chambers of Commerce (NCC), Nada Automobiles Association of Nepal, Nepal-China Chambers, National Business Initiative (NBI) and various business institutions have also issued the press note protesting against the government move to defame a reputed business group and Dr Roop Jyoti.
The private sector also held a rally protesting the arrest of Dr Roop Jyoti and his daughter today.
Meanwhile, Bigendra Krishna Malla – who had petitioned a case of fraud against former state minister and renowned industrialist Dr Roop Jyoti – has filed an application requesting withdrawal of case in the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) today in Kathmandu, informed assistant district attorney Num Raj Khanal. The decision of OAG to not move the Court – as also suspected to be out of the court settlement – will help police to free Dr Jyoti.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Malla alleging Dr Jyoti for defrauding Rs 12 million, the police had arrested Dr Jyoti and his daughter Suruchi Jyoti last Thursday. The Kathmandu District Court had already extended remand on the father-daughter duo two times, for further investigation. The eight-day remand is to end today, while the petitioner filed for withdrawal of the case yesterday. The police has, however, already submitted the investigation report to the Office of Attorney General (OAG), while the case is in process.
Dr Jyoti was arrested from Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) upon his return from Singapore on November 7. “Independent press reports suggest that Dr Roop Jyoti was charged for a crime he was not involved in," reads a press note released by Nepali students and alumni members of Harvard University. "A multi-year and multi-party business dispute that should and could have been settled via a mediation or arbitration process appears to have been blown out of proportion into a criminal offence - targeting Dr Roop Jyoti and resulting in his arrest," the press note reads, adding that they are troubled by media reports, which suggest that Dr Jyoti is being harassed because he refused to succumb to extortion.
“We demand that the authorities investigate this charge,” reads the press note signed by more than two dozen Nepal students from Harvard University and alumni members.
Expressing their hopes that the rule of law will prevail, the alumni members, said, "While we expect the rule of law to prevail and to take its course, the circumstances and the manner in which Dr Jyoti and his family are being treated appear to be arbitrary, disproportionate and unfair.”
The alumni members also strongly urged the government to free Dr Jyoti and his family members. “As not doing so would send an adverse signal that the authorities in Nepal can arrest anyone under any pretext, thereby ruining the person’s reputation, damaging the worth of their societal contributions, and casting a chill in the way that civil society and the private sector operate with rights and privileges granted by the Constitution of Nepal," the press note further reads.
Renowned businessman, philanthropist and Vipassana meditation teacher, Dr Roop Jyoti, who completed his PHD from the prestigious Harvard University in 1999, is currently under police custody due to a case filed by Bigendra Krishna Malla against him.
However, Malla yesterday took his case back saying that he does not want to move to Court. The Police might release Dr Jyoti tomorrow. But the surprise arrest of Dr Jyoti – under the charge of fraud that is not criminal offence – has raised eyebrows of all quarters. The unlikely fast move of Nepal's police and the ‘suspected involvement’ of government in the case has also sent a negative message to the investors, domestic and foreign. The 'treatment' to the eight-decade old Jyoti Group has also terrorised the private sector. The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal Chambers of Commerce (NCC), Nada Automobiles Association of Nepal, Nepal-China Chambers, National Business Initiative (NBI) and various business institutions have also issued the press note protesting against the government move to defame a reputed business group and Dr Roop Jyoti.
The private sector also held a rally protesting the arrest of Dr Roop Jyoti and his daughter today.
Meanwhile, Bigendra Krishna Malla – who had petitioned a case of fraud against former state minister and renowned industrialist Dr Roop Jyoti – has filed an application requesting withdrawal of case in the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) today in Kathmandu, informed assistant district attorney Num Raj Khanal. The decision of OAG to not move the Court – as also suspected to be out of the court settlement – will help police to free Dr Jyoti.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Malla alleging Dr Jyoti for defrauding Rs 12 million, the police had arrested Dr Jyoti and his daughter Suruchi Jyoti last Thursday. The Kathmandu District Court had already extended remand on the father-daughter duo two times, for further investigation. The eight-day remand is to end today, while the petitioner filed for withdrawal of the case yesterday. The police has, however, already submitted the investigation report to the Office of Attorney General (OAG), while the case is in process.
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