Comprehensive review of Mahesh Basnet's documented procedural history: 2011 Itahari incident, 2020 Yadav complaint, 2024 sexual offense case, and 2025 press freedom allegations. Evidence-based analysis of official records and court proceedings.
Over the past month, I've been tracking down every official record I could find involving Mahesh Basnet. What emerged is a pattern of legal encounters spanning 14 years—some resolved, others left in bureaucratic limbo. Here's what the documents actually say.
Important distinction
There are two politicians named Mahesh Basnet in Nepal. This investigation focuses on Mahesh Basnet (born 1975, Bhaktapur; former Minister of Industry; former chief of Youth Association Nepal; CPN-UML). I'm not writing about Mahesh Basnet (born 1960; Ilam-1; former Ilam mayor).
What happened: Basnet was arrested during Youth Association Nepal protests in Itahari. Police records show vandalism and injuries, but I couldn't locate any final court judgment.
My take: This appears to be a historical law-and-order incident. Without access to the complete court file, I can only report that arrests occurred during political mobilizations. As of September 24, 2025: No conviction on record.
This case shows how Nepal's legal system works in practice—it's a procedural journey, not a simple guilty/not guilty outcome.
29 April 2020
Kathmandu District Government Attorney's Office (DGAO) refused to register Dr Surendra Yadav's complaint naming Mahesh Basnet, Kisan Shrestha, and former IGP Sarbendra Khanal. (Kathmandu Post)
30 April 2020
Yadav petitioned the National Human Rights Commission seeking review of the refusal. (Kathmandu Post)
4 May 2020
DGAO registered the complaint after review. (Kathmandu Post)
17 May 2020
The office placed the file on hold (kept in abeyance) pending further instruction. (Kathmandu Post)
Where it stands: I couldn't find any final charge-sheet or court verdict in the public record. The case was registered, then put on hold. Without official documents showing a conclusion, I can't say whether this was resolved or simply forgotten. As of September 24, 2025: No conviction on record.
Filing
A 31-year-old complainant lodged a case at the District Police Range, Kathmandu in early April 2024 alleging two rapes and foeticide (forced abortion).
Prosecutorial decision
On BS 2081-01-04 (≈ 16 April 2024), the Kathmandu DGAO placed the case in "tameli" (archived pending further evidence) following a police recommendation.
High Court oversight
The Patan High Court, via Justice Hemanta Rawal, directed the DGAO to submit a written reply within 15 days explaining the tameli decision. (Safal Khabar)
"पाटन उच्च अदालतले डीजीएओलाई १५ दिनभित्र तामेलीको कारण लेखित जवाफ दिनु भएको छ"
— Safal Khabar report summarizing court order
Docket: Patan High Court, Justice Hemanta Rawal, Order Date: April 2024, Case Reference: DGAO Tameli Review
Related writ
A subsequent writ petition by the complainant was dismissed by Patan High Court Justices Rishi Raj Bhandari and Khadananda Tiwari on BS 2081-05-26 (≈ 11 September 2024). (Highway Samachar)
"पाटन उच्च अदालतको बेंचले रिट याचिका खारेज गरेको छ"
— Highway Samachar report on writ dismissal
Docket: Patan High Court, Justices Rishi Raj Bhandari & Khadananda Tiwari, Order Date: September 11, 2024, Case Reference: Writ Petition Dismissal
What this means: No conviction is on record. "Tameli" is essentially an administrative archive—the case is shelved pending new evidence. The court dismissed the procedural challenge, but that doesn't mean the allegations were proven or disproven. As of September 24, 2025: No conviction on record.
September 20, 2025: The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) publicly condemned alleged threats against editor Tekman Shakya, urging prompt legal action. (My Republica) (archived)
September 2025: Media Action Nepal recorded a threat claim with a callback number and asked authorities to investigate. (Media Action Nepal) (archived)
"The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) strongly condemns the alleged threat against journalist Tekman Shakya and demands immediate legal action against UML leader Mahesh Basnet."
"FNJ calls upon the concerned authorities to investigate this matter promptly and ensure the safety of journalists in Nepal."
— Federation of Nepali Journalists, Press Release, September 20, 2025
YouTube Audio/Video: Journalist Shakya's published recording
Transcript (excerpt):
"तिमीले यो कुरा छापेको भए तिम्रो ज्यान जान्छ। मैले तिमीलाई मारिदिन्छु।"
"If you publish this story, your life will be in danger. I will kill you."
— Alleged threat recording, September 2025
My reporting: These are association allegations and calls for action. Without an official FIR, charge-sheet, or court order, I can only report these as allegations from the journalist organizations. As of September 24, 2025: No official charges filed.
Itahari unrest: arrests during youth-wing mobilizations; vandalism and injuries logged.
DGAO Kathmandu refuses to register the Surendra Yadav complaint.
Yadav petitions the National Human Rights Commission.
DGAO registers the complaint after review.
Complaint held in abeyance ("kept on hold").
Sexual-offense complaint lodged in Kathmandu.
DGAO places the file in tameli.
Patan High Court orders a 15-day written reply on the tameli decision.
High Court bench dismisses the related writ petition.
FNJ and Media Action Nepal issue public statements alleging threats to editor Tekman Shakya.
• Kathmandu Post: "After police and district attorney's refusal to take complaint, lawmaker Surendra Yadav approaches human rights commission" (April 30, 2020) (archived)
• Kathmandu Post: "District attorney office takes Yadav abduction complaint but only after a counter-complaint by the accused" (May 5, 2020) (archived)
• The Himalayan Times: "Rape, foeticide complaint lodged against Mahesh Basnet" (accessible mirror)
• Safal Khabar: "Prosecutor's tameli decision and High Court 15-day reply order" (local portal)
• Highway Samachar: "Related writ outcome (dismissed; BS 2081-05-26)" (local portal)
• YouTube: Journalist Shakya's published audio/video of alleged threats (archived)
• My Republica: "FNJ condemns UML leader Basnet's threat against journalist Shakya" (archived)
• Media Action Nepal: "Media Action Nepal condemns death threat against journalist Shakya" (archived)
After weeks of document hunting, here's what I found: Nepal's legal system moves slowly, and many cases get stuck in procedural limbo. Basnet has been named in several complaints over the years, but as of 24 September 2025, there's no publicly reported conviction involving any of these matters. The cases show a sequence of recorded procedural actions, bureaucratic delays, and administrative decisions—but no clear resolution. That's not an exoneration or a conviction; it's just what the public records indicate.