Court orders to release former minister Khadka detained in money laundering case

Nepal’s Supreme Court has ordered the release of former Energy Minister and Nepali Congress leader Deepak Khadka, who was in police detention on money laundering charges.

A joint bench of Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla and Justice Shreekant Paudel issued the order on Thursday, in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by Khadka’s wife, Binita Thapa, according to Supreme Court information officer Nirajan Pandey.

The court ruled that the legal procedures followed during Khadka’s arrest and the subsequent extensions of his remand were unlawful. According to the bench, the evidence presented by the government did not justify continued detention. The justices noted that the investigation into the alleged offenses could proceed effectively without keeping Khadka in custody.

Though the court granted his release, it imposed a travel restriction, stating that Khadka must obtain prior permission from the court before traveling abroad.

This decision follows a Wednesday hearing where the court demanded the investigative files and a written response from the Department of Revenue Investigation.