High Court Releases YouTuber Roshan Pokharel on Rs 25,000 Bail in Cybercrime Case

Kathmandu. The High Court Biratnagar, Ilam Bench has ordered the release of YouTuber Roshan Pokharel on a bail amount of Rs 25,000 in a cybercrime case filed over content defaming Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) and his family.

The interim order was issued on Thursday by a joint bench of Justices Kiran Pokharel and Kaji Bahadur Rai, allowing Pokharel to remain out of custody while the case proceeds.

Pokharel, 24, of Phalgunanda Rural Municipality-7, Panchthar, was arrested on April 9 for publishing videos targeting Mayor Balen and several other political figures.

On July 2, the District Government Attorney's Office, Panchthar, filed a cybercrime case against him. On the same day, the Panchthar District Court, under Judge Kumar Maskey, ordered that Pokharel be remanded in judicial custody until the case was decided.

Challenging that order, Pokharel filed an appeal at the High Court Biratnagar's Ilam Bench on June 8.

Hearing the appeal, the High Court overturned the district court's earlier order and directed authorities to release him on Rs 25,000 bail, allowing him to defend himself while remaining at liberty during the trial.

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