KATHMANDU, JUNE 25
The Special Court has issued an order to release former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on bail amounting to Rs 3.5 million.
According to Yagya Raj Regmi, Information Officer at the Special Court, the order was issued following a hearing to determine whether the former Prime Minister should be remanded in custody for further investigation in connection with the Patanjali Yogpeeth land misappropriation case.
"An order was issued to release former Prime Minister Nepal on bail of Rs 3.5 million or with an equivalent amount as a bank guarantee," Regmi said.
A division bench comprising Justices Tej Narayan Singh, Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Bidur Koirala handed down the ruling.
Former Prime Minister Nepal's statement was recorded starting Wednesday afternoon after he appeared in person at the court. Following this, a detention hearing was conducted, during which lawyers from both sides presented arguments.
Five defense lawyers representing Nepal and an equal number of government attorneys took part in the debate.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a case at the Special Court against 93 individuals, including former Prime Minister Nepal, in connection with the Patanjali Yogpeeth land ceiling scam.
The charge sheet accuses Nepal of irregularities committed during his tenure as Prime Minister, specifically for allegedly exempting land ceiling regulations to facilitate the purchase of land by Patanjali Yogpeeth. A fine of Rs 185.85 million has been demanded in the case.
(With inputs from Rastriya Samachar Samiti)
