KATHMANDU: In the ongoing Fake Bhutanese Refugee Case, the Patan High Court has sanctioned the release of several individuals on bail. Sandeep Rayamajhi, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, was granted bail on a cash bond of Rs 3 million.

Justices Prakash Kharel and Janak Pandey of the bench also approved bail for Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rizal, setting the bail amount at 1.5 million rupees. Similarly, former Home Minister Balkrishna Khand’s private secretary, Narendra KC, was ordered to be released on a bail amount of 1 million rupees.

Additionally, the court mandated bail sums of 1.5 million rupees for Haribhakta Maharjan and Shamsher Miyan, 3 million rupees for Ashish Budhathoki, and 1.5 million rupees for Ramsharan KC.

Furthermore, the court granted simple parole for Lakshmi Maharjan, Tank Kumar Gurung, and Keshav Tuladhar.

However, the court upheld the Kathmandu District Court’s decision in the case of nine defendants, including former Minister Rayamajhi.

In a noteworthy turn, the division bench could not reach a consensus regarding the case of accused Khand. Consequently, the Chief Judge will add another judge to the bench of Pandey and Kharel to decide on Khand’s matter. If even this three-judge panel fails to reach a consensus, the case will be escalated to the Supreme Court.