Following the decision of the Government of Nepal on June 20, cybercrime cases can now be registered at district police offices nationwide and processed by district courts, as per the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008. Previously, cybercrime-related complaints were registered at the Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police and were prosecuted at the Kathmandu District Court. However, with the new directive, district police offices across the country have begun registering these cases.
A cybercrime complaint has been registered at the District Police Office of Koshi Province, and the trial has commenced at the District Court, according to the Koshi Province Police Office in Biratnagar. Sankhuwasabha representative Bhabin Karki reported that the cybercrime case is currently under legal process in the district court. On March 20, the District Police Office arrested 23-year-old Prajwal Deep Dhaulakoti from Khandbari Municipality-10 Chandanpur on charges of harassment and using obscene language on Facebook. The case was filed in the district court on April 7, by the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008. District Court Judge Teknath Gautam’s order on April 7 set the bail amount at Rs 100,000. The accused, who was released on bail following the court’s order, remains under ongoing prosecution. Similarly, on January 16, 2024, the police arrested 32-year-old Kesharman Rai from Chichila Rural Municipality-2 on charges of publishing a picture of Gaushala 26. The arrest, conducted in Khandbari Municipality, was carried out by the Central Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police with assistance from the Sankhuwasabha Police. Rai was transferred to the Cyber Bureau by the Sankhuwasabha Police for further investigation on January 17. He has since been released after posting a bond of Rs 100,000. The case against him is currently under legal process at the District Court in Kathmandu.
According to Panchthar representative Iwara Jawegu Limbu, one cybercrime complaint has been registered at the district police office following the decision by the Nepal government. Hemantraj Bhandari, DSP of the district police office, reported that a 21-year-old woman filed a complaint on January 7, 2024, alleging that 34-year-old Safal Karki of Rong Rural Municipality-5, Ilam district, was involved in character assassination by sharing obscene videos and photos on social media, specifically Facebook. DSP Bhandari stated that there was already a complaint at the district police office before the Nepal government’s decision, and while the legal process had been initiated, the government’s decision made it easier to handle the case in the district court. He further explained that the obligation to prosecute the case, which involved consultation with the Cyber Crime Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police, was lifted following the government’s decision. The police arrested the accused on January 8, 2024, and filed a case in the District Court on February 1, 2024, under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008. As per the order of District Court Judge Tikendra Dahal on February 2, 2024, the accused is in custody for pretrial detention. The case is currently proceeding legally.
According to Dhankuta representative Ishwar Thapa, the district police office has reported that no complaints related to cybercrime have been received from July 2023 to the first week of September 2024. SP Shyamsingh Chaudhary of the District Police Office confirmed that no cyber crime complaints have been filed. Following the Nepal government’s decision on June 20, 2023, cyber crime complaints are to be filed at district police offices across the country, with cases registered and processed by the respective district courts. The Cabinet meeting on June 20, 2023, decided that cases of cybercrime under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008, which were previously handled only by the Kathmandu District Court, will now be registered at all 77 District Police Offices, with cases to be registered by the respective district courts. However, no complaints have been filed at the Dhankuta District Police Office for action. SP Chaudhary stated that there have been no issues related to cybercrime in the district, as no complaints have been received.
According to Okhaldhunga representative Saraswati Baniya, following the Nepal government’s decision, a cybercrime complaint has been registered at the district police office and legal action has been initiated. On February 6, the aggrieved party filed a complaint against 41-year-old Hitraj Karki of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-9 at the District Police Office, alleging sexual abuse through the use of obscene language on Facebook. The police registered a cybercrime case against the accused at the district court on March 6 and have proceeded with the legal proceedings. Inspector Bijay Karki of the District Police Office stated that the accused, who had absconded after the complaint was filed, appeared in court on March 17. The case against Karki is currently in the legal process.
According to Taplejung representative Alina Diyali, no complaints related to cybercrime have been filed in the district police office. According to the Decision of the Government of Nepal, on June 20, 2023, complaints can be filed at district police offices across the country, and cases will be prosecuted in district courts. However, Inspector Kamal Kumar Lungeli reported that no cybercrime complaints have been filed at district police offices to date. Inspector Lungeli stated that no cybercrime complaints have been filed through August of the fiscal year 2024-2025. In the fiscal year 2022-2023, of a total of 181 complaints, there were 14 complaints of rape and two of attempted rape. However, there were no complaints related to cybercrime.