RSP lawmaker Khagendra Sunar denies audio is his; panel seeks evidenceरास्वपा सांसद खगेन्द्र सुनारले अडियो आफ्नो नभएको दाबी गरे, छानबिन समितिले प्रमाण खोज्दै

The allegations were reported by Jana Aastha, and the audio published with its report appears to capture Sunar verbally abusing a woman in obscene language, demanding money and threatening to kill her. The report also alleged that he had lured the woman with the promise of marriage, made explicit videos and photographs of her, and then used them to blackmail her.

RSP general secretary Bipin Acharya assigned the matter to the disciplinary commission, saying in a statement that the allegations were "extremely serious and sensitive". The party has also instructed Sunar not to attend events in his official capacity until the investigation is over.

After the audio became public, Sunar disputed its authenticity, claiming it was generated using artificial intelligence, and argued that he has been repeatedly targeted since raising the issue of corruption in the police. In a social media post, he wrote: "All the allegations made public are false.

They are propaganda created using technologies such as AI."

Bhattarai said Sunar's written statement broadly reflects what he had already posted on social media.

The panel has written to the television channel that aired an interview given by the woman on its programme 'Sidha Kura', seeking the recording. Bhattarai said the panel had yet to receive the audio.

In that interview, the woman said no violence had taken place. A panel member said Sunar's denial and the interview had raised questions about whether the woman was now retracting or contradicting her earlier allegations.

The panel has obtained an unedited version of the audio from Jana Aastha. Bhattarai said the panel would verify that audio internally and, if it ran into complications, write to the relevant authorities for a technical examination.

He said the panel would meet to decide whether a technical examination is necessary once it receives the woman's interview audio, and that such an examination could prolong the investigation. He said the panel would question Sunar after completing its own technical examination, with the timeline depending on how long that examination takes.

Bhattarai also said the panel would examine whether the allegations against Sunar were substantiated at all.