Police arrest Lord of Drinks owner Suwal

Police on Thursday arrested Raju Singh Suwal, one of the owners of Lord of Drinks (LoD), a popular nightclub in Thamel, in connection with the rape of a minor girl.

Senior Superintendent of Police Siddhi Bikram Shah, Lalitpur police chief, said Suwal was arrested from Baluwatar, adding he has been handed over to Kathmandu Police Range for further investigation.

Arrest warrants were issued on June 28 against Suwal and another owner of the club, Rudil Ballav Shrestha, who is currently on the run, police said.

Police on June 14 had arrested Sudan Bahadur Koirala on the charge of raping a 15-year-old girl in Lalitpur after taking her away from the nightclub.

Owners committed offences against Section 66 (2) of the Act Relating to Children, 2018 by allowing entry of a minor, police said.

The provision in the act states that any person involving a child in addictions such as smoking, drinking or gambling and allowing him/her to enter or use him/her in recreational facilities opened for adults such as dance bars and casinos shall be deemed to have committed the act of violence against the child.

Such a person(s) is liable to a fine of up to Rs50,000 and imprisonment for up to one year as per the law.