High Court upholds detention of TikToker Tulsa Adhikari

The Patan High Court has upheld a Lalitpur District Court order to keep Tulsa Adhikari, a TikToker and operator of Tulsa Collection, in custody while her case is heard. A joint bench of judges Khadka Bahadur KC and Keshav Prasad Adhikari ruled on Thursday that the district court's order was not improper and that there was no ground to change it, according to Setopati and Lokpath.

Adhikari was arrested in Thailand on May 31, 2026, with the help of Interpol and brought back to Nepal, Setopati reported. A bench of Lalitpur District Court judge Teknath Gautam ordered her held in custody pending trial on June 4, 2026. She then petitioned the Patan High Court to overturn that order and release her.

Prosecutors have charged Adhikari with organised crime, criminal gain (extortion) and money laundering offences, according to Nagarik, Setopati, Nepal Press and Lokpath. They are seeking about Rs 211.22 million from her (Rs 211,220,406.16, as the reports give the figure). Nagarik reported that she is accused of drawing a man into a "honey trap" for financial gain. The charge sheet also asks that the victim be compensated and that she be punished as the law provides, Lokpath reported.

Adhikari has been charged, not convicted. The High Court's order concerns only whether she stays in custody during the trial; the charges themselves have yet to be tried.