Nepal SC orders release of scribe held in assets case

Nepal's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the release of senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit who was in custody of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) in a disproportionate assets case.

There was pressure from national as well as international circles on the CIAA to release him unconditionally. Dixit was in custody since April 22.

Opinions were divided over his arrest as many saw it as a vendetta by CIAA chief Lokman Singh Karki.

Dixit had opposed Karki's appointment as the chief of one of the most powerful constitutional bodies in Nepal. Karki comes from royal background and served as chief secretary of former king Gyanendra Shah.

Dixit was on Monday presented before the Supreme Court following a habeas corpus writ filed by his wife Shanta.

The apex court had also directed the CIAA to present Dixit before it.

Earlier, a special court had granted permission to the anti-graft body to take Dixit into custody for investigation.

The CIAA had sought 30-day custody of Dixit to investigate the corruption case.

Dixit was arrested on April 22 from Patan Dhoka by CIAA for amassing property disproportionate to his known sources of income.

After his arrest, Dixit complained of uneasiness and was admitted to a hospital for treatment.

According to his brother Kunda Dixit, who is also a journalist, Kanak was admitted to the intensive care unit after suffering from high blood pressure and hypertension after the arrest.

(Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com)

--IANS

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