Kantipur, first published on 7th Falgun 2049 BS (18 February 1993) along with its sister publication The Kathmandu Post, is often credited for taking the lead in institutionalizing free press and professional journalism in the country.

Kantipur has not only been praised for its stance towards multi-party democracy and press freedom in Nepal but also has faced government scrutiny and repression.

After publishing the rebel leader Baburam Bhattarai's article on the Royal Massacre in 2001, the government arrested Kantipur's editor Yuvraj Ghimire along with other members in the management team.

[6] In June 2010, Kantipur accused the Indian Embassy of interfering with its coverage by punitively withdrawing advertisements from the company and delaying shipments of newsprint from India.

[8] The Kantipur's Editor-in-chief, Chairman, a Company Director and a reporter appeared before the Supreme Court of Nepal, as the Kantipur daily was accused of contempt of court for a series of articles indicating that the Chief Justice of Nepal Gopal Prasad Parajuli had given different dates of birth on several official documents.