Kathmandu, June 5 -- A government secretary sent a text message to the prime minister. Police later picked him up from his home for questioning. Questions have arisen about overreach.

Krishna Hari Pushkar (Karna), secretary at the Office of the Vice President, texted Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who also holds the portfolio of home minister, on Thursday morning, seeking a favour-an act he considered innocuous. But he was shocked when he found himself in the midst of police grilling.

"The tenure of a Government of Nepal secretary is fixed at five years. Given the current circumstances, unless there is your special consideration regarding the post of chief secretary, my retirement on July 8 appears inevitable. I have also noticed the rec...