Supreme Court rejects habeas corpus petition of former DIG Joshi

Kathmandu, October 9 — The Supreme Court has rejected for the second time the habeas corpus petition filed by Chhabilal Joshi, a former DIG of the Nepal Police and a director of Gorkha Media, who was arrested for investigation in the Pokhara Surya Darshan Cooperative fraud case.

The bench led by Justice Kumar Regmi ruled against the petition claiming illegal detention, which was filed by Joshi's son, Rojak Joshi. Previously, on October 7, Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla had issued an order to show cause. On October 2, the Supreme Court had ordered the police to be attentive while rejecting a writ for Joshi's release on bail.

On October 2, a bench comprising Justices Til Prasad Shrestha and Abdul Aziz Musalman issued a directive order and dismissed the writ. Although the bench drew the police's attention, it refused to release him, prompting the family to approach the Supreme Court again.

With Dashain holidays approaching, the family had requested that the police be reminded that they should be released on bail or date of appearance.

During today’s hearing, after dismissing the habeas corpus writ, the Supreme Court indicated that the matter will now be decided by the Kaski District Police Office.

Joshi was arrested for investigation related to the misappropriation of loans taken from the Surya Darshan Cooperative in Pokhara for Gorkha Media. A case is pending in the Kaski District Court, and the police are investigating to file another charge sheet based on supplementary complaints from the victims. The police are also investigating Rabi Lamichhane, the prseident of the Rashtriya Swotantra Party and the former executive chief of Gorkha Media, regarding the loan misappropriation case.