KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has ordered the release of former minister Raj Kumar Gupta on a cash bail of Rs 5 million or a bank guarantee of equivalent value in a bribery case.
A joint bench of Justices Sharanga Subedi and Sunil Kumar Pokharel issued the order on Tuesday, according to the written verdict made public on Wednesday.
The court directed authorities to release Gupta on bail pending trial in accordance with Section 7(d) of the Special Court Act, 2059.
The order states that Gupta may be released after depositing Rs 5 million in cash, providing a bank guarantee of equal value, or furnishing property collateral, while remaining under court supervision during the trial process.
The Supreme Court overturned an earlier order by the Special Court in Kathmandu that had directed Gupta to remain in judicial custody for further investigation.
“The order issued by the Special Court, Kathmandu on 2082/9/16 to keep the defendant Raj Kumar Gupta in detention for trial does not appear appropriate and is therefore revoked,” the verdict states.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority had filed the corruption case against Gupta, accusing him of accepting bribes while serving as Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration.
According to the charge sheet, Gupta allegedly took bribes to facilitate the transfer retention of Ram Chandra Adhikari at the Land Revenue Office in Kaski and to secure the appointment of Khamba Bahadur Pun as chairperson of the Land Problem Resolution Commission in Kaski.
The Supreme Court also upheld the Special Court’s earlier order granting bail release to other defendants in the case, including Ram Chandra Adhikari, Tulsiram Budha Magar, and Ranjita Shrestha.
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