Kathmandu. Deepak Bhatt’s father Chaturbhuj Bhatt has filed a petition at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) demanding protection of his son’s human rights and fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Chaturbhuj Bhatta had filed a petition at the NHRC office in Pulchowk on October 9, demanding a verdict investigation into the contents published in the media and social media and to take necessary initiatives for the protection of his son’s human rights.

He claimed that news and materials are being published portraying Deepak Bhatt as a convict, character assassination and hurting social prestige while the case is pending in various courts. He said that such content can also affect the right to get impartial justice.

In particular, he objected to the news that he had contacted former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana over the phone and requested him to take stock of the pending case. He said that such material has hurt his son’s reputation, saying that what he has not done has been presented as truth.

Meanwhile, Bhatt has also questioned the transfer of his son from Nakkhu Jail to Sindhupalchowk Jail on October 1. He said that the cases against Deepak are sub-judice in Kathmandu District Court, Special Court and High Court Patan and they have not been informed about the grounds, reasons and decision-making process of the transfer.

Questioning the justification and necessity of the transfer, he claimed that it could have a direct or indirect impact on the judicial process of the sub-judice case and has added to the mental agony of the family.

He said that he has also filed an application with the Nakkhu Prison and Prison Management Department seeking information about the reason for shifting Deepak from Nakkhu Jail to Sindhupalchowk Jail and his conduct during his stay in Nakkhu Jail. However, he said that he has not received any information about the application so far.

Similarly, objecting to the news published about the phone call from jail, he said that he has also filed an application with the concerned media and Press Council Nepal. He has also urged the media to ensure that they are working responsibly in accordance with Article 19 of the Constitution, Press Council Act, 1991 and Journalist Code of Conduct, 2073 (with amendment).

The petition submitted to the National Human Rights Commission has demanded a veritable investigation into the materials published in the media and social media, study the decision and documents related to the transfer of the prison and carry out on-site monitoring as per the need. It has also urged the concerned authorities to take necessary initiatives for the protection of Deepak’s human rights and constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights and to consider the rationale of his transfer to Nakkhu Jail and direct the concerned authorities to return him to Nakkhu Jail.

Chaturbhuj Bhatt has made it clear that he does not intend to obstruct any agency’s impartial investigation or judicial process. He said that he has filed the petition for an impartial investigation into the facts, respect for the legal process, prevention of character assassination by misleading news and protection of his son’s human rights and fundamental rights.