SC issues show cause order for Chudamani Sharma's imprisonment

KATHMANDU, Aug 11: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a show cause order  for the imprisonment of suspended Joint Secretary Chudamani Sharma. The order was issued by a bench led by Justice Binod Sharma, directing the Special Court, Department of Prison Management, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, and the Supreme Court's Writ and Case Division to present their justification for Sharma's detention.

Chudamani Sharma had filed a petition in the SC, claiming that his imprisonment was unlawful and a result of actions by these four agencies. He approached the SC on Friday, seeking direct intervention, arguing that he was being held in illegal detention.

Sharma contended that he should be allowed to appeal the Special Court's decision from outside the prison. The Special Court had sentenced him to nine years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 6.157 billion. Sharma was jailed after failing to pay the fine and bail.

Under criminal law, those sentenced to 10 years or more can appeal their cases while out on bail. However, Sharma, who received a nine-year sentence, argued that he was forced to remain in prison due to his inability to pay the required bail, prompting him to seek immediate relief from the Supreme Court.