Ex-Crown Prince Paras Shah Faced Multiple Controversies In Nepal

Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev, the former crown prince of Nepal and only son of ex‑king Gyanendra Shah, has remained one of the most controversial figures linked to the country’s erstwhile royal family. Once next in line to the throne, Paras’s public image was marred by a series of high‑profile incidents that astonished and outraged many Nepalis, contributing to widespread criticism of the monarchy long before it was abolished in 2008.

Born into privilege, Paras briefly captured positive attention in 2001 when he reportedly helped save relatives during the horrific royal massacre in which his cousin, Crown Prince Dipendra, killed several family members before dying himself. But that early moment of heroism was overshadowed by a litany of legal run‑ins and disturbing behaviour in the years that followed.

Perhaps the most notorious early scandal involved a hit‑and‑run incident in August 2000 that led to the death of popular Nepali singer Praveen Gurung. Although Paras was widely accused, an army officer ultimately assumed responsibility, and he was never formally charged — a decision that sparked public outrage and massive protests. Over 600,000 Nepalis took to the streets demanding accountability, embedding deep resentment toward royal impunity.

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Paras’s troubles continued into the next decade. In December 2010, he was arrested after firing a pistol during an altercation at a hotel in Chitwan while allegedly drunk, with reports claiming he threatened a guest who was related to a senior political figure. He later faced other legal troubles abroad, including drug‑related arrests in Thailand in 2012 and 2014, as well as accusations of disorderly conduct and misbehaviour with law enforcement in Nepal.

Beyond these headline incidents, Paras was implicated in accusations related to the alleged misuse of funds from the National Trust for Nature Conservation when he headed the organisation — allegations that further tarnished the royal family’s reputation at a time of intensifying public distrust.

Although Nepal abolished its monarchy in 2008 and Paras no longer holds any official status, his controversial legacy lingers in national memory. For many Nepalis, his turbulent behaviour and apparent disregard for legal accountability became symbolic of the excesses of an institution that critics argued was out of step with democratic aspirations — a factor that helped fuel the decades‑long movement toward a republican system of government.

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