KATHMANDU, Dec 13: A hearing on whether to release Nepali Congress (NC) leader and former home minister Balkrishna Khand from prison on bail is underway at the Patan High Court today. Khand is in prison on the charge of being involved in the fake Bhutanese refugee case. Judge Krishna Raj Koirala's bench will decide whether to release him on bail or continue keeping him in jail.

In the case of Khand, there was a difference of opinion between the two judges on whether to release him from custody on a bail of Rs 3 million or continue keeping him in custody. After the two judges of the bench differed in opinion, the case was sent to another bench. 

On December 1, the joint bench of Judges Janak Pandey and Prakash Kharel reached a consensus on the matter of 19 people, while there was a difference of opinion only on the matter of Khand.

The Patan High Court ordered that the order of the Kathmandu District Court be partially annulled and partially upheld in cases related to fraud, forgery and organized crime.

Judge Janak Pandey ordered that Balkrishna Khand should be released on a bail of Rs 3 million. The other judge of the bench, Prakash Kharel, ordered that former minister Khand be kept in custody. 

 
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