High Court, Patan has issued a short-term interim order preventing the arrest of journalist Dil Bhushan Pathak, who is currently facing cybercrime charges in a case related to electronic transactions.
Issuing a short-term interim order on Monday, the High Court directed that Pathak not be arrested immediately, even though the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police had obtained permission from the district court to arrest him for investigation.
A single bench of Justice Rishi Raj Bhandari issued a short-term interim order not to arrest him immediately and also summoned the government side for further discussion.
After the Cyber Bureau attempted to arrest Pathak, his wife, Shikha Prasai, filed a petition for a prohibitory order in the High Court.
Senior advocates Sambhu Thapa and Dr. Bhimarjun Acharya, along with advocate Om Prakash Aryal, among others, had pleaded on his behalf, stating that the state is currently suppressing press freedom, and cyber laws are being misused.
They demanded that the court must play a role in protecting constitutional rights, saying that individuals in power are attempting to suppress press freedom and freedom of expression.
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