KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu District Court has granted three days for public prosecutors and six days for defendants’ lawyers for remand arguments which began on Sunday.

The hearing to decide whether to continue the prosecution against the accused holding them in custody or release them on bail on a case of extorting money from Nepali citizens by creating fake Bhutanese citizens and sending them to the United States has started in the Kathmandu District Court.

The hearing is undergoing under Judge Prem Prasad Neupane.

Judge Neupane has allocated 3 days time for the government lawyers to argue on behalf of the complainant and the victim.

Similarly, 6 days time has been set aside for arguments on behalf of the defendant and the 18 arrested accused.
The Court will give its verdict on whether to release them on bail or send time to prison for pre-trial detention.
If the district court orders to send them to prison, they can go to the Supreme Court against it through the high court. A superior court can overturn a district court’s decision.

Earlier, Judge Neupane made a statement of the arrested accused after a week. Most of the arrested have been denying the charges against them.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and CPN-UML Secretary Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former Home Minister and Nepali Congress leader Balkrishna Khand, former Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, Former Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal’s security advisor, Bhutani Refugee leader Teknath Rijal, former lawmaker and Nepali Congress leader Angtawa Sherpa have been arrested in this case.

Similarly, Haj Committee Chairman Shamsher Mian, mediators Keshav Dulal, and Sanu Bhandari, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi’s son Sandeep, another mediator Sandesh Sharma, former ward Chairman Sagar Rai, mediator Tank Gurung, Ram Sharan KC, Balakrishna Khand’s PA Narendra KC, mediators Gobind Chaudhary, Lakshmi Maharjan, Haribhakta Pradhaneople are currently in custody.