KATHMANDU, Oct 25: The Supreme Court has released five detainees during the Dashain holidays.

“Five detainees were released after their detention was found illegal,” Nagendra Prasad Kalakheti, spokesperson of the Supreme Court, told Republica on Wednesday. 

According to him, a single bench of Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha issued writs of habeas corpus for their release.

Raju Karki, Amar Chhetri, Barta Bahadur Rai, Yam Bahadur Limbu, and Rajendra Adhikari are those released by the apex court. The release came in response to habeas corpus petitions filed by Pabitra KC and Bhawana Sapkota challenging the arrests by police.  “Most of the detainees are cadres of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) and their arrest was found illegal,” Kalakheti said.

During Dashain holidays eight habeas corpus petitions were registered at the apex court demanding the release of detainees but writs were issued in favor of only three detainees.

“Five petitions were quashed on the ground that the detainees were arrested legally on various charges such as banking fraud, cheating, and other criminal offenses,” Kalakheti added.

The apex court was closed for Dashain holidays for two weeks from October 10 to 24 but the court accepted habeas corpus petitions even during holidays.

 
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