Complaint Filed at Home Ministry Against Balen
Accused of Providing False Details for Changing Surname and Home Address in Citizenship
Kathmandu, February 20. A complaint has been registered at the Ministry of Home Affairs against Balendra Shah (Balen), former Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), accusing him of providing false details in his citizenship.
The complaint filed by social activist Yubaraj Safal claims that Shah acted contrary to the Citizenship Act, 2063, and demands that his citizenship be revoked and legal action be taken against him.
In the complaint addressed to the Ministry of Home Affairs, it is alleged that when obtaining citizenship number 5192 from the District Administration Office, Mahottari on Poush 6, 2063, the surname was mentioned as ‘Shah’, but later after becoming the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, when obtaining a copy of the citizenship from the District Administration Office, Kathmandu on Asar 19, 2079, a different detail was mentioned by changing the home address.
According to sources, complainant Yubaraj Safal has warned that if the complaint filed at the Ministry of Home Affairs is ignored, he will approach the Supreme Court. Safal has been quoted as saying, “I have registered a complaint at the Home Ministry. If the government ignores this complaint, I will go even to the Supreme Court.”
The complainant has mentioned the legal provision under Section 12 of the Citizenship Act, 2063, which states that if any Nepali citizen is proven to have obtained citizenship by providing false details, such citizenship can be revoked. Additionally, it is alleged that although a person wishing to change their residence is required to complete the necessary process under Section 17(2), the surname was changed without completing that process.
The petition demands that the relevant documents be investigated, the citizenship be revoked according to the law, and a penalty of up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to one hundred thousand rupees be imposed.
Balen Shah has not yet given any reaction regarding this matter. It is estimated that the citizenship issue could put the former mayor and RSP senior leader under further legal pressure.
