Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has ordered the government to release the Secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Krishna Bahadur Raut.
Hearing a habeas corpus filed by Raut, a division bench of Justices Prakash Kumar Dhungana and Nahakul Subedi ruled that the police can investigate against him without keeping him in custody. “Studying the documents furnished by the police, the court found no basis, reason, or justification that the investigation could be affected if Raut is not kept in custody,” the court stated.
The apex court has ordered Raut not to leave the country without getting the go-ahead of the court hearing the case until the investigation is completed.
The apex court also issued a mandamus order to investigate Raut by releasing him on a general date.
Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police had arrested Raut for an investigation into the Lalita Niwas land grab scam. He was arrested from the airport while he was preparing to board a flight to Biratnagar on July 9.
The bench, however, scrapped the habeas corpus petition seeking the release of Min Bahadur Gurung, the chairman of Bhat-Bhateni Super Market, who has also been detained for investigation into the Lalital Niwas land grab scam.
