Fact check: Mahesh Acharya had resigned as defence minister, not finance minister, after the NRB governor’s reinstatement

On April 7, 2022, the government suspended Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari. Various news reports claimed that the action against the governor was the result of a tussle between him and Finance Minister Janardan Sharma. On April 17, Adhikari moved the Supreme Court against the government decision. Two days later, on April 19, the apex court issued an interim order reinstating Adhikari. After the governor’s reinstatement, media reports said the finance minister was under moral pressure to resign.

Media reports claimed, in a similar case, over two decades ago, “the then finance minister Mahesh Acharya” had resigned on March 29, 2001, after the then governor, Tilak Rawal, was reinstated by the Supreme Court.