Hearing on Durga Prasai's habeas corpus petition deferred

KATHMANDU, Sept 30: The hearing on the habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai has been deferred.

The information officer at the Supreme Court, Gobinda Prasad Ghimire, confirmed that the case was deferred due to a shortage of justices.

Earlier, the case was scheduled to be heard on Monday on the bench of  Hariprasad Phuyal and Balakrishna Dhakal. The next hearing for the case is set for Tuesday.

Durga Prasai's son, Nirajan Prasai, filed a writ petition alleging that his father was being unlawfully detained.

On September 24, a single bench of Justice Prakashman Singh Raut conducted the preliminary hearing on the petition and issued a 15-day show-cause order against the defendants.

Earlier on September 23, Prasai’s son, Niraj, lodged the petition after the police arrested his father from their home.

Police arrested him on September 22 based on a complaint by RSP Central Committee member Tika Sangraula (Jwala) and other women, accusing Prasai of character assassination. The police detained him with the court’s approval.