DNA Khabar editor Dhiraj Basnet detained as police take action involving multiple journalists

Kathmandu, October 31, 2026 — Police have detained Dhiraj Basnet, editor-in-chief of DNA Khabar, after calling him to the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office in Teku on Friday afternoon.

A journalist working at DNA Khabar said Basnet received a phone call from the office informing him that there had been an eSewa scam involving his account. Basnet went to the office, but police later told him in the evening that he would have to stay there.

“Today afternoon, he received a call from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office in Teku saying that his eSewa had been scammed,” a journalist working there said. “He went there, but this evening they told him, ‘You will have to stay here now.’”

Police have also taken Nepal Press journalist Bishwamani Subedi into custody. Nepal Press said Subedi was taken by police on the grounds that they needed to speak with him about a news report.

Meanwhile, a police team is stationed at the office of Naya Patrika, reportedly waiting to take journalist Nawaraj Mainali.

Police have also detained Shobaraj Baral of Motivate News.