The release of former Home Minister Balkrishna Khand has been uncertain after judges were divided over whether to release him on bail or keep him in prison.
Now this dispute will be referred to a third judge, the court has said.
Hearing the petiton on Friday, Judge Janak Pandey of High Court, Patan ordered that Khand be released on a bail of Rs 3 million, while Judge Prakash Kharel disagreed with the opinion of releasing him on bail as “he cannot be said to be innocent now.”.
Now his case will be submitted to a third judge. It is not yet certain who will be the third judge. The bench for Khand’s case will be referred through a lucky draw system. Hence, Khand will remain in custody until further orders.
Khand, who is serving a jail-term for trying to send a Nepali citizen as a fake Bhutanese refugee to America, filed a petition in the High Court demanding his release from prison.
The hearing on the writ petition has been take place since November 21.
The District Police Range, Kathmandu had filed a writ petition against 30 individuals including Khand in the Kathmandu District Court on the charge of fraud, racketeering, organized crime and crimes against the state. Of them 10 accused are at large.
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