Adhikari sent to two-day police remand

KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu District Court on Sunday placed Koshi Province Assembly member Lilaballabh Adhikari on a two-day police remand.

A single bench of District Judge Khimananda Bhusal took the decision.

Adhikari was arrested in Biratnagar as part of an investigation into human trafficking charges. He was arrested on Sunday morning and presented before the court immediately after he was brought to Kathmandu.

The CPN-UML suspended Adhikari from general membership on Saturday pending the resolution of the charges against him. He had previously resigned as Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of the Koshi Province Government after facing criticism for visiting Japan without notifying Chief Minister Hikmat Karki or obtaining federal government approval.

Adhikari, who was elected to the province assembly from the Morang-2 (B) constituency, has been accused of preparing fake documents for three individuals who accompanied him to Japan. All three were deported by Japanese immigration authorities.