High-Level Commission Grills Pandey, Singh

The high-level investigation commission headed by former Supreme Court justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi today grilled former Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey and honorary aide camp of the King Bharat Keshari Singh.

Pandey came out of the commission’s office at Harihar Bhawan after interrogation at around 4:15 p.m. while Singh was still being interrogated until 5:00 p.m. in connection with his alleged role in suppressing the agitations.

Pandey said the erstwhile royal cabinet should take responsibility for the incidents during the 19-day long people’s movement-II in April this year.

Before entering the commission’s office, Singh said he didn’t advise the King during the royal regime. “Can an ADC provoke the King? I didn’t give any advices either. You [journalists] do not know anything. And, you don’t have brains,” an agitated Singh said. He also denied that the World Hindu Federation chaired by him received money from the royal government.

Meanwhile, the commission summoned four individuals – former minister Radha Krishna Mainali, then head of the Information Department, Narayan Gopal Malego, joint secretary of the Home Ministry Sushil Ghimire and then secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communication, Kumar Poudel for interrogation on Thursday.