Nepal royal cools his heels in jail after firing

Nepalese authorities on Wednesday remanded former crown prince Paras Shah to three days of custody over a case of firing after an argument with the relatives of Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala, even as he claimed that he was suffering from a heart ailment.

District Administration Office (DAO), Basant Raj Gautam remanded Paras for three days on a public offence allegation.

Shah is accused of firing an illegal pistol inside the Chitwan National Park during a brawl with daughter and son-in-law of Koirala. Paras, the only son of the deposed king Gyanendra was notorious for his playboy lifestyle and had got into several escapades in the Nepalese capital's night spots.

"Police will either present his papers or himself to me after the investigation, then there will be decision on either his case should be taken to the court or dismissed," Gautam was quoted as saying by MyRepublica.com.

Shah, who has been kept in the police custody in Bharatpur has sought his release, saying he has a heart condition and needs regular treatment for it. He has expressed readiness to be present when required. Shah's personal doctors reached Bharatpur on Wednesday.

Rubel Chaudhary, son-in-law of Sujata has accused that Shah opened fire with the attempt of murder.

However, Shah, has denied the charges saying that he just fired in the air out of anger after a debate in the Tiger Tops Jungle Resort.

Chaudhary told media that the firing was linked with abolition of monarchy by the Koirala family two and half years ago. This was for the first time that a member of the erstwhile royal family has been arrested after a country-wide warrant was issued against him.

The arrest came after major political parties including Nepali Congress and the Maoists, joined forces to demand that the prince be arrested. Meanwhile, at least 27 people were arrested in Kathmandu on Wednesday as they protested against the arrest of Paras.

They were arrested for breaking laws and trying to vandalise public property, said Kedar Dhakal, Deputy Superintendent of Police at Metropolitan Police Circle, Kathmandu.

Demonstrations were also held in Janakpur in Dhanusha district of southern Nepal and markets were partially closed in Chitawan district, where the ex-crown prince is detained.