Kathmandu — Nepali Congress leader and former Energy Minister Deepak Khadka has spoken out for the first time about the vandalism and money-scattering incident that occurred at his residence in Budhanilkantha on September 9 (Bhadra 24).
Speaking to reporters in the courtyard of his home on Monday morning, Khadka denied reports that he had fled during the unrest, saying security forces had moved him and his family to safety once the situation turned violent.
The incident gained wide attention after a viral video showed bundles of banknotes being thrown into the air inside Khadka’s residence. Addressing the controversy, Khadka said, “I was inside the house when the incident took place.
I have already registered details with the police regarding the amount and the foreign currency I had at home. Those notes were new bundles of 20- and 50-rupee bills set aside for Dashain.”
Alleges Attempt to Tarnish Reputation
He claimed that the protesters deliberately seized and tossed the small-denomination notes into the air while taking photos and videos. “It was all planned to damage my reputation,” Khadka alleged. “The entire act was organized for character assassination.”
Citing his business background, the former minister said that possessing some cash at home should not be viewed as suspicious. “Is it really unbelievable that someone like me might have a few hundred thousand rupees?” he asked journalists. “Look at my background and my professional history — my financial structure was already established long before I entered politics or became a minister.”
Khadka added that he has submitted photographic and video evidence to police investigators and urged a fair and impartial inquiry into the matter. He stressed that the false narratives and viral footage had seriously harmed his and his family’s reputation, calling for the investigation to reveal the truth.
Police have not yet released an official statement or report regarding the incident or the ongoing investigation.
