27 December - 2 Janauary 2014 #687

Poor prince

Bhuwan Sharma, Naya Patrika, 13 December

Former crown prince Paras Shah who has been undergoing treatment at a rehabilitation centre in Changai, Thailand is said to be in trouble after failing to pay his monthly medical bills. Shah was admitted to the centre in March after suffering from a heart attack, which resulted in a two week stay at Bangkok’s Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital.

Paras’ monthly bill of 150,000 Thai baht (approximately Rs 450,000) was being footed by his father, ex-King Gyanendra Shah. However, Gyanendra has been unable to send money to his son for some time now. Friends say failure to make the necessary payment has led the former prince to question the future of his treatment at the centre. Even Paras’ Thai girlfriend Kanika Lin, who he had earlier proposed to bring home to Nepal, is believed to have stopped providing him financial support. His wife Himani Shah seems to have stopped caring either.

Paras is expected to be released at the end of the month and friends say that rehab has done him good. “We have noticed a huge improvement in his health and he also has a more positive outlook on life now,” explained one.

Paras moved to the Thai capital three years ago and since then hasn’t made a single trip back home. When he was hospitalised in March, his parents and wife paid him a visit. Gyanendra wants his son to return to Nepal only after making a full recovery and has been urging the ex-crown prince not to hurry.

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