Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by Divyanshu Shekhar Jha seeking the release of his father, Bechan Jha.
A single bench of Justice Tek Prasad Dhungana rejected the petition following a hearing on Thursday, according to the Supreme Court’s Information Officer Govinda Ghimire.
“The petition has been dismissed,” Ghimire told Himal Press. “The Supreme Court has upheld the district court’s order.”
Divyanshu filed the habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court on July 14, arguing that the Kathmandu District Court was repeatedly extending his father’s detention period for investigation into organized crime.
The Supreme Court dismissed the petition, noting that the police had kept Jha in custody for investigation with the district court’s permission.
Jha was arrested by a team from the Special Bureau of Nepal Police near the Nepal-India border on June 28.
The District Police Range, Kathmandu, is preparing to file a supplementary charge sheet in the fake Bhutanese refugee case. Jha’s statement has already been recorded. Police say they are now investigating other individuals who might be implicated based on his testimony.
Police can keep suspects of organized crime in custody for up to 60 days and may request the court for an extension of the detention period if needed.
A charge sheet in this case is already under consideration at the Kathmandu District Court. Former ministers Balkrishna Khand, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, and suspended secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, among others, are defendants in the case.
