KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has ordered the release of Durga Prasai, owner of B & C Medical College and a Hindu religious activist, from police custody.
The ruling came on Tuesday during a hearing of Prasai’s writ petition for direct release. The order was issued by a two-judge bench comprising Justices Manoj Kumar Sharma and Meghraj Pokharel, paving the way for his immediate release.
Prasai had been detained by police at his residence in Thimi, Bhaktapur, on the midnight of Falgun 4 over government concerns that he might incite election-related disturbances. He had been held at the District Police Office, Kathmandu, following repeated arrests by the authorities over the past month.
Earlier, on February 6, Prasai was also taken into custody but was released on interim bail after appearing at the government attorney’s office. The government reportedly acted after fears of potential election disruption following his dialogue with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli. At the time, police intercepted him in Balkhu while he was en route to Parsa.
Prasai had previously been questioned by the Cyber Bureau regarding controversial remarks on elections, and although his statement was recorded, he was released on bail. On the latest occasion, police also detained Rishi Kattel and Dharmendra Bastola alongside Prasai.
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