A habeas corpus petition filed for the release of former Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane has been marked as “not to be reviewed.” The petition was filed in the bench of Justice Hari Phuyal, but the Supreme Court has decided it will not look into the petition at this moment.
Court Had Scheduled Hearing for Tuesday
Although the Supreme Court had set Tuesday as the hearing date, the petition was not accepted for review. The petition was filed by Lamichhane‘s wife, Nikita Poudel, on Sunday, claiming that he was being illegally detained.
Lamichhane Accused in Cooperative Scam Case
Rabi Lamichhane is currently being held in Bhairahawa prison under pretrial detention in connection with a cooperative fraud case. His wife argued that the detention was not legal and asked for his immediate release.
District Court Granted Bail, High Court Overruled
In the Butwal Supreme Cooperative fraud case, the Rupandehi District Court had earlier ordered Lamichhane’s release on a bail of one crore rupees. However, the Butwal bench of the Tulsipur High Court canceled that order on Chaitra 22 and directed police to send him back to custody.
Arrested at Night and Taken to Bhairahawa Jail
On the same night the new court order was issued, Lamichhane was arrested from his home. The next day, on Chaitra 23, he was taken to Bhairahawa District Jail, where he is currently being held.
