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The Supreme Court has summoned Yuvaraj Kandel, publisher of sidhakura.com, and Navin Dhungana, executive editor, to respond to allegations of contempt of court. 

The case stems from the publication of fake audiovisual news reports defaming a sitting justice, senior advocates, and media personalities. Justices Nahkul Subedi and Tek Prasad Dhungana on Monday ordered Kandel and Dhungana to appear before the court on May 2 at 10 am to justify their dissemination of fake content undermining the independent judiciary.

The Supreme Court initiated a suo moto contempt case against Kandel and Dhungana following fraudulent news reports published on sidhakura.com and its YouTube channel. The reports accused  Justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Chairperson of Annapurna Media Network Capt Rameshwar Thapa, and Chairperson of Kantipur Media Group Kailash Sirohiya, special correspondent of Annapurna Post Surendra Kafle, and senior advocates Hari Upreti and Kishor Bista, among others, of organizing a clandestine meeting to dismiss more than 400 corruption cases.

The apex court has also directed Nepal Police to investigate the matter.

Thapa and Sirohiya have denounced the fake contents, labeling them premeditated and malicious. The press fraternity and regulatory bodies have also expressed concerns over the contents published by sidhakura.com.

Govinda Ghimire, deputy registrar at the Supreme Court, filed a petition on behalf of the Supreme Court on Sunday as per Article 128(4) of the Constitution of Nepal, section 17(1) of the Judicial Administration Act and Supreme Court regulations. The petition demands maximum punishment for the defendants under relevant laws. 

The Supreme Court said that the prima facie finding of the contents published by sidhakura.com suggest that they were created to scandalize the court.     

Meanwhile, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has also urged the authorities concerned to investigate and take action against sidhakura.com.

Issuing a statement on Monday, the anti-graft body said that it is inconceivable for the commission to be involved in any other activities other than following the decision of the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court and investigating and prosecuting complaints within its jurisdiction.

The CIAA also refuted any involvement in misleading activities, as claimed by sidhakura.com.

In response to the contempt case, sidhakura.com has removed the fake videos from its platforms. This move comes after initially refusing to comply with instructions from the Press Council Nepal. 

Press Council Chairman Balkrishna Basnet said they ordered sidhakura.com to take down the audiovisual contents within 24 hours. The contents were suspicious at a first glance, they were clearly biased, not based on any facts, and in violation of the journalistic code of ethics, he added.

Stay focused, set your goals clear and don’t hesitate to try new things. Create a great work portfolio and network. Use social media to reach your target audience and keep yourself updated and most importantly stay positive, they say.

In the world of elegance and beauty, Kanchan and Kabita Shrestha, the sisters who own Lume Makeover Studio in Kathmandu’s Mid Baneshwor, are the picture perfect example of dedication and devotion. They started out as independent makeup artists, developing their craft and gaining recognition in Kathmandu’s thriving beauty industry.

Their big opportunity came in 2018 when they worked together with famed makeup artist Swastika Rajbhandari’s assistants for the Miss Nepal campaign. In addition to giving them a chance to display their abilities on a national stage, this opportunity gave the Shrestha sisters priceless experiences and insights that would influence their future undertakings.

Originally from a small town of Chitwan, Kanchan and Kabita moved to Kathmandu nine years ago for further education. Kanchan finished her MBA in Entrepreneurship from Kings College, while Kabita is currently pursuing an MBA degree at Herald College.

“We treasure our childhood memories, especially the ones we shared with our family. These experiences, which ranged from playing outside with siblings to assisting with household tasks like laundry and meal preparation, instilled in us the virtues of diligence, accountability, and cooperation. Above all, they made it possible for us to grow closer to our mother and absorb her strength and wisdom in a cozy and loving environment,” they say.

Cooking, baking, and gardening for their loved ones brings Kanchan and Kabita much delight, aside from their love of makeup. Through these pursuits, they may express their creativity, strengthen their bonds with family and the natural world, and find fulfillment and relaxation.

According to the sisters, spending time in silence with our loved ones and having in-depth, lengthy talks that uplift the spirit. “Whether it’s just chatting, exchanging ideas, or just spending time together. In addition to being a source of inspiration and renewal, these pastimes and quality time with one another also help people achieve balance and refreshment in the middle of daily chaos.”

Before starting their journey into the makeup business, both sisters earned a certificate in cosmetics from SMA Bangkok, a thorough curriculum that provides practical instruction in a range of beauty methods. With courses covering everything from special effects and prosthetics to wedding and magazine makeup, the curriculum gave them the tools they needed to succeed in the beauty business.

Motivated by their love of the beauty industry, the sisters looked into makeup artistry as a possible career path and saw a lot of room for expansion. They started out as freelance makeup artists, therefore it was first difficult for them to make the switch to opening their own studio and focusing on bridal beauty.

What’s the meaning of Lume? “After brainstorming for a long time, we picked the name Lume as a short form of illume. For us, Lume represents the light within or to spread the light upon,” the duo say.     

The sisters’ persistent love for makeup artistry and their ambition to start a company that reflected their ideals and creativity propelled them into the field of cosmetics as a vocation. They were excited to put their passion for cosmetics and their entrepreneurial drive together in order to launch a lucrative and satisfying career in the beauty business.

Living in Kathmandu has had a profound impact on both sisters’ careers and creative styles. The city’s lively energy, cultural variety, and plenty of inspiration have spurred their creativity and allowed them to explore new routes in the beauty business. Kathmandu’s fast-paced environment has taught them to adapt quickly, think on their feet, and accept change, all of which have helped them advance in their careers. Finally, Kathmandu acted as a spur for their professional development and a foundation for their artistic identity, molding them into the artists and professionals they are today.

As makeup artists, both sisters ultimate goal was to establish themselves as trusted names in the makeup industry. In addition to establishing them as a trusted bridal makeup artist, they are equally committed to building a core team of talented individuals who share a passion for minimal bridal makeup and dedication to exceptional service. Collaboration and teamwork are integral to providing a seamless and unforgettable experience for their clients.

Their ultimate goal is to be recognized not only for their technical skills and artistic vision but also for the personalized and compassionate approach they bring to every client interaction. Making people happy and helping them feel beautiful is at the heart of what they do, and they are dedicated to continuously honing their craft to fulfill that aspiration.

Talking about the memorable success they have achieved in their journey and business, “One of the most memorable successes in our journey came when we had the opportunity to contribute to Miss Nepal Shrinkhala Khatiwada’s introduction video for Miss World. Being entrusted with such an important task was not only an honor but also a significant milestone in our career as a makeup artist.”

“Another memorable success in our business journey was the opening of our studio with our hard-earned money from makeup. The journey to opening our studio was not without its challenges, but overcoming obstacles and persevering through setbacks only made the achievement sweeter. It was a testament to our passion, resilience, and commitment to excellence,” they say.

Kanchan expressed that if she wasn’t a makeup artist, she would have continued her passion for fashion as a fashion designer. She is fascinated by the world of fashion because of the options for creativity and self-expression it provides.

Kabita, on the other hand, would have been a dentist, as she was preparing for the entrance exams for BDS, but life had better plans and ended up being a makeup artist.

Staying up to date on the newest trends in the ever-changing cosmetics industry is critical for offering excellent service to customers. To stay competitive, the sisters frequently engage in a variety of training programs, conferences, and seminars. Attending makeup workshops, industry events, and trade fairs allows them to learn from renowned pros about rising trends, novel products, and sophisticated methods.

The sisters prioritize consistency in their work across several clients and scenarios. They accomplish this by following a systematic approach, performing in-depth customer consultations, referencing their portfolio for consistency, constantly upgrading their abilities through training, employing high-quality materials, and aggressively seeking feedback to improve.

As for now, they are currently booked up with appointments because the bridal season is quickly approaching. However, they are excited to begin working on new projects soon.

Sidhakur.com has removed the news/video content entitled ‘Deal to dismiss 400 corruption cases.’

 The news portal took down all the related content from the website, YouTube and social media.

The Sidhakura said that all the contents have been suspended for now as the investigation process has moved ahead as per a letter from the Press Council Nepal.

The Supreme Court had also issued an order to summon the publisher of the Sidhakura to record the statement in the contempt of court case.

A division bench of Justices Nahakul Subedi and Tek Prasad Dhungana had issued the order.

Earlier, Press Council Nepal had directed Sidhakura.com to remove a fake news published on April 26, 2024, claiming that the leadership of Annapurna Media Network and Kantipur Publications were part of a meeting involving sitting and former Supreme Court justices and senior lawyers to dismiss more than 400 corruption cases.

The news portal has named Capt. Rameshwar Thapa, chairman of Annapurna Media Network (AMN), and Kailash Sirohiya, chairman of Kantipur Publications, as key members of the so-called high profile secret meeting.

Sidhakura.com had, however, refused to remove the content.

On Monday itself, the Council had written to the editor, program presenter and operator of Sidhakura to appear with evidence.

On Sunday, the Supreme Court Administration had raised a contempt of court proceedings against the news portal, sidhakura.com, and its YouTube channel.

The court administration sought legal action against the publisher sidhakura.com, Yuvaraj Kandel, for publishing a fake news report, accusing a sitting Supreme Court justice, various senior advocates, and the publishers of two prominent media houses, among others, of trying to dismiss more than 400 corruption cases.

Kandel’s news portal has accused Supreme Court Justice Anand Mohan Bhattarai, Chairman of the Annapurna Media Network Rameshwar Thapa, Managing Director of the Kantipur Media Group Kailash Sirohiya, special correspondent of Annapurna Post Surendra Kafle, and senior advocates Hari Upreti and Kishor Vishwakarma, of being part of a clandestine meeting.

Actor CP Lohani passed away this afternoon at the age of 86. He is known as the lead actor of the first privately-produced hit Nepali movie 'Maitighar,

Suffering from Alzheimer as well as pneumonia, Lohani died in the course of treatment at Maitighar-based Annapurna Neuro Hospital, said Lohani's nephew and journalist, Bikas Prasad Lohani.

He had served at the Ministry of Finance and Industry Ministry as well as worked as Director of the Biratnagar Jute Mills and Raghupati Jute Mills.

Lohani was also a renowned personality in the film and music sector.

He was married to famed Bollywood actress Mala Sinha, who was his co-star in the movie 'Maitighar'.

His final rites would be performed at Pashupati Aryaghat today itself, according to family sources.