Feb 21, Kathmandu - Kathmandu Metropolitan City's former mayor, Balendra Shah, is under serious scrutiny following allegations of document forgery and citizenship misrepresentation. A formal complaint has been lodged with the District Police Office in Bhadrakali, accusing Shah of unlawfully altering his citizenship records to conceal his true identity.

The complaint alleges that Shah deliberately manipulated his citizenship details to hide his original surname and ethnic background, aiming to gain advantages associated with higher social status. Specifically, it is claimed that he replaced the surname 'Sah' with 'Shah'—a change purportedly made to obscure his indigenous Madhesi heritage and secure socio-economic benefits.

According to the complaint, Shah altered his surname in official documents to conceal his ancestral identity, taking advantage of old citizenship papers of his father and older relatives, as well as recent citizenship copies.

Documents obtained indicate that Shah first acquired his citizenship certificate (Number 6192) from the District Administration Office, Mahottari, on Paush 6, 2063. However, after assuming the mayoral position in Kathmandu, he reportedly obtained a duplicate copy of his citizenship from the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, on Asadha 19, 2079.

It is alleged that during this process, Shah illegally modified his surname from 'Sah' to 'Shah' in his official documents, along with those of his father, to misrepresent his ethnicity and identity.

This development has sparked widespread debate over the integrity of public officials and the importance of transparent documentation.