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14 December 2010
Last updated at 07:08 ET
Former Nepali Crown Prince Paras Shah has been detained by police after allegedly firing a gun during a drunken row in a hotel restaurant.
The former heir to the now abolished throne reportedly threatened relatives of the deputy premier at a national park in the south of the country.
The 39-year-old son of ex-King Gyanendra is unpopular among many Nepalis for his playboy lifestyle.
His cousin shot dead nine family members before killing himself in 2001.
An official inquiry blamed Prince Dipendra for the royal massacre, whose victims included the king and queen.
The Himalayan nation's 240-year-old Hindu monarchy was abolished in 2008 after former Maoist rebels who waged a 10-year insurgency against the state came to power.
'Derogatory remarks' Police detained Mr Shah on Tuesday at a hotel in the Fulbari resort at the town of Pokhara, western Nepal, where he had been staying.
He was flown by helicopter to Chitwan, where Sunday's shooting incident allegedly happened, to face possible charges.
Medical help was reportedly called for after Mr Shah, who has had health problems, said he felt unwell.
While visiting Chitwan National Park to celebrate his daughter's birthday, Mr Shah is said to have fired his pistol into the air after a late-night row with other guests.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
Mr Shah reportedly had an argument with the daughter and son-in-law of Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister, Sujata Koirala. Mr Shah was quoted as saying they had made derogatory remarks about his family.
He had reportedly been drinking when the incident happened at the jungle resort, which is a popular tourist destination.
It is not clear where he fired the weapon in the restaurant, which is partly inside and partly outside, but it is understood there was no damage to the premises.
The Himalayan Times online quoted Mr Shah as admitting that he had fired the weapon.
"I fired a shot in the air from my pistol in a fit of anger as I could not bear the insult of myself and the country," Mr Shah reportedly said.
The Nepalese government has formed a commission to investigate Mr Shah for alleged illegal possession of a firearm.
"I am sure the government will take appropriate action as nobody is above the law," Kathmandu police chief Ramesh Kharel told the BBC earlier.
Mr Shah moved to Singapore with his family in 2008 after having a heart attack. But he still has a home in Nepal and travels between the countries.
He was a controversial and unpopular figure who had been at the centre of a number of scandals.
Last year he spoke out on the 2001 royal massacre in which his cousin killed nine family members before killing himself.
He said Prince Dipendra had been angry at a failed arms deal, and unhappy at his family's rejection of his choice of bride.
Mr Shah said the prince had also been opposed to King Birendra's decision to end absolute monarchy in Nepal.
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The former heir to the now abolished throne reportedly threatened relatives of the deputy premier at a national park in the south of the country.
The 39-year-old son of ex-King Gyanendra is unpopular among many Nepalis for his playboy lifestyle.
His cousin shot dead nine family members before killing himself in 2001.
An official inquiry blamed Prince Dipendra for the royal massacre, whose victims included the king and queen.
The Himalayan nation's 240-year-old Hindu monarchy was abolished in 2008 after former Maoist rebels who waged a 10-year insurgency against the state came to power.
'Derogatory remarks' Police detained Mr Shah on Tuesday at a hotel in the Fulbari resort at the town of Pokhara, western Nepal, where he had been staying.
He was flown by helicopter to Chitwan, where Sunday's shooting incident allegedly happened, to face possible charges.
Medical help was reportedly called for after Mr Shah, who has had health problems, said he felt unwell.
While visiting Chitwan National Park to celebrate his daughter's birthday, Mr Shah is said to have fired his pistol into the air after a late-night row with other guests.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
I fired a shot in the air in a fit of anger as I could not bear the insult of myself and the country”
End Quote
Paras Shah
Former Crown Prince
Mr Shah reportedly had an argument with the daughter and son-in-law of Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister, Sujata Koirala. Mr Shah was quoted as saying they had made derogatory remarks about his family.
He had reportedly been drinking when the incident happened at the jungle resort, which is a popular tourist destination.
It is not clear where he fired the weapon in the restaurant, which is partly inside and partly outside, but it is understood there was no damage to the premises.
The Himalayan Times online quoted Mr Shah as admitting that he had fired the weapon.
"I fired a shot in the air from my pistol in a fit of anger as I could not bear the insult of myself and the country," Mr Shah reportedly said.
The Nepalese government has formed a commission to investigate Mr Shah for alleged illegal possession of a firearm.
"I am sure the government will take appropriate action as nobody is above the law," Kathmandu police chief Ramesh Kharel told the BBC earlier.
Mr Shah moved to Singapore with his family in 2008 after having a heart attack. But he still has a home in Nepal and travels between the countries.
He was a controversial and unpopular figure who had been at the centre of a number of scandals.
Last year he spoke out on the 2001 royal massacre in which his cousin killed nine family members before killing himself.
He said Prince Dipendra had been angry at a failed arms deal, and unhappy at his family's rejection of his choice of bride.
Mr Shah said the prince had also been opposed to King Birendra's decision to end absolute monarchy in Nepal.
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