KATHMANDU: Today marks a crucial hearing in the legal proceedings involving the case of former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, currently in custody awaiting trial in the alleged fake Bhutanese refugee case.
The Patan High Court will conduct a single bench hearing, with judges to be selected through a round-robin process.
The decision rendered by the third judge’s perspective will determine whether Khand remains incarcerated or is granted bail.
Earlier, a joint bench comprising Patan High Court Judges Janak Pandey and Prakash Kharel faced a disagreement on whether to release Khand on bail or maintain his imprisonment.
Consequently, the bench opted to refer the case to a third judge.
In the previous ruling, the bench granted bail to four individuals, released six on bail, and ordered the detention of nine others.
In accordance with this order, certain individuals have already been released.
During the initial order, Judge Pandey recommended Khand’s release on a Rs 3 million bond, while Kharel advocated for his continued imprisonment.
The court issued bail for Laxmi Maharjan, Tanka Gurung, Keshav Tuladhar, and Ashish Budhathoki.
Notably, Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rizal, Chairman of the Haj Committee Shamsher Miyan, Bal Krishna Khand’s personal secretary Narendra KC, former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi’s son Sandeep, Haribhakta Maharjan, and Ramsharan KC were also granted bail.
Conversely, UML leader Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, Sanu Bhandari, Keshav Dulal, Indrajit Rai, Sagar Rai, Govinda Kumar Chaudhary, Sandesh Sharma, and Angtawa Sherpa were ordered to be detained.
The case, registered in the Kathmandu District Court, involves 20 individuals accused of fraud, forgery, crimes against the state, and organized crime in connection with the alleged fake Bhutanese refugees.
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