Fmr prince in gun brawl with min kin

Nepal Police are investigating a case against former crown prince Paras Shah following publication of news reports that he fired in the air and threatened the country’s foreign minister’s relative.

Updated on: Dec 13, 2010, 16:04:33 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal Police are investigating a case against former crown prince Paras Shah following publication of news reports that he fired in the air and threatened the country’s foreign minister’s relative.

The alleged incident took place on Saturday night at a forest resort in Chitwan, 185 km south-west of Kathmandu, when Shah had a verbal duel with Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala’s son-in-law Rubel Chaudhary.

Reports say that both Paras and Chaudhary’s families had arrived separately and were staying in the resort. In the evening the former prince joined Chaudhary in the bar and started discussing politics.

The situation turned ugly when after a few drinks Shah allegedly blamed the Koirala family for the abolition of monarchy in 2008.

"Shah soon urged Chaudhary to accompany him on a midnight safari. When the later refused, the former prince took out his revolver and brandished it at Chaudhary," said a close associate of Sujata Koirala.

As the scene deteriorated, some of Shah’s security guards took Chaudhary away. Reports say that infuriated at Chaudhary’s refusal to accompany him, Shah fired five rounds into the air.

In a statement issued on Monday, Shah admitted that he had fired in the air but denied having targeted Chaudhary.

He said that the firing was in reaction to taunts made at him and Nepal by two persons, an Indian and a Bangladeshi.

The Foreign Minister who is in Indonessia at present called up Home Minister Bhim Rawal to seek security for her son-in-law’s family and demand action against Shah.

“No complaint has yet been filed about the incident. But we are investigating the matter,” Nepal Police spokesperson Bigyan Raj Sharma told HT.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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