Out as IGP, in as adviser: Nepal has seen this before

The Rastriya Swatantra Party-led government’s removal of Dan Bahadur Karki as inspector general of police has revived memories of a similar episode three decades ago. Less than a month after becoming home minister, Bamdev Gautam removed then IGP Achyut Krishna Kharel and installed an IGP of his own choosing. On April 3, 1997, with Kharel having spent just 36 days in office, Gautam transferred him to head the Investigation Department. Gautam appointed then additional inspector general Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan as the new IGP.

Govinda Thapa, the Investigation Department chief, was shifted to the Special Police. The decision drew widespread criticism. Kharel, claiming he had been removed illegally, petitioned the Supreme Court for reinstatement. Eight months later, the court did not issue a ruling.

Hearings were held, but no verdict came. Gautam himself was under fire at the time. The opposition accused him of misusing state machinery to defeat their candidates in the local elections held after he became home minister, and demanded an investigation.