Kathmandu: The Supreme Court has dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed seeking the release of Bechan Jha, who was arrested in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.
According to Govinda Ghimire, information officer at the Supreme Court, the single bench of Justice Tek Prasad Dhungana dismissed the petition on Thursday after hearing arguments from both sides.
Jha, arrested on June 28, was remanded by the Kathmandu District Court for investigation into organised crime.
Jha’s son, Dibyansu Shekhar, filed a habeas corpus petition on July 14 seeking his father’s release. The hearing on it was repeatedly adjourned at Jha’s request.
Following Wednesday’s order, Jha’s custody has been extended for 60 days.
Police arrested dozens of people including former ministers Balkrishna Khand of Nepali Congress, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi of CPN-UML and former home secretary Tek Narayan Pandey. Some of them including Khand were released on bail while some others including Rayamajhi are in judicial custody. Police have given continuity to the investigation and made some fresh arrests while the case remains sub judice in the apex court.
