KATHMANDU, Jan 25: Sunil Paudel, the suspended managing director of Nepal Telecom, and Bikal Paudel, the suspended executive director of the Security Printing Center, who were taken to the Special Court for extension of investigation, have insisted that they not be detained.

They have claimed that they cannot be arrested and even extending the deadline is against the law. The Paudel duo, who were brought to the Special Court, have demanded that discussions should be held in the presence of lawyers. 

Spokesman Dhan Bahadur Karki said that after that, the Special Court will hold a debate on whether to keep them in custody or not.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) detained both of them for investigation yesterday. The Commission brought both of them to the court for an extension of time to keep them in custody for investigation. 

The court is going to decide whether to keep both of them under the custody of CIAA and investigate them or to investigate them by keeping them outside the prison. The Commission claims that both of them have opened accounts in foreign banks without the approval of Nepal Rastra Bank and have been formally appointed as international consultants while working in Nepal's government service.

Bikal Paudel, has moreover, obtained a permanent residence permit of the United States of America and CIAA said that he was taken into custody after issuing an arrest warrant as they may destroy evidence related to the crime and escape. "As it appears that there will be a hindrance in the investigation work, they have been detained on January 24, 2024 with an urgent arrest warrant and further investigation is being conducted," CIAA said.

 
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