Sher Bahadur Deuba and Arzu Rana Deuba's Return to Nepal Delayed

Kathmandu. Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress’s former president Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba will take some more time to return to Nepal. According to close sources, the Deuba couple, who were preparing to return to Nepal on June 5, have decided to stay in Hong Kong for some more time due to the doctor's advice, informed family sources.< p>

Deuba had gone to Singapore from Nepal on February 13. His wife Dr. Arzu had gone to India from Nepal a few days before that. The couple, who reached Singapore from India, left for Hong Kong on March 7. Before that, the Deuba couple had gone to Singapore on November 10 and returned to Nepal after 18 days.< p>

During the Genji movement, the Deuba couple were beaten to near death by protestors at their residence in Budhanilkantha. After that, the Deuba couple, who were treated at the Military Hospital Chhauni for a long time, went to Hong Kong via Singapore for further treatment.< p>

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While the Deuba couple were in Hong Kong, the police obtained an arrest warrant against them from the Kathmandu District Court in a money laundering case. The Department of Money Laundering Investigation had obtained an arrest warrant against them in connection with the investigation into illegal asset acquisition.< p>

However, the Deuba couple approached the Supreme Court with a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that the arrest warrant was obtained from the District Court instead of the ‘Special Court’ designated to hear money laundering cases, which is against the law. The Supreme Court issued an interim order on May 11, stating not to arrest them based on the arrest warrant issued by the District Court, as it was issued from the Kathmandu District Court instead of the Special Court. The bench of Justices Mahesh Sharma Poudel and Nityananda Pandey issued the interim order not to arrest them.< p>

According to the ordinance issued on April 18, cases investigated by the Department of Money Laundering Investigation are to be sent to the Special Court. However, the Supreme Court issued an interim order not to implement the arrest warrant issued by the District Court.< p>

Former General Secretary of Congress, Dr. Shashank Koirala, has now reached Hong Kong to meet Deuba. Sources informed that he has been there for about a week.< p>

Sources also claim that Deuba has been in contact with former acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka and leader Ramesh Lekhak regarding the current state of the party.< p>

There has been a dispute in Congress since the selection of new leadership through a special general convention held in the last week of Poush amidst disagreements between Deuba and the then central committee. That dispute has not yet been resolved.< p>

• Search for Deuba couple's residence underway

Deuba's residence in Budhanilkantha was destroyed in the arson that occurred on August 24 during the Genji movement. The destroyed house has now been demolished. After that, the Deuba couple were staying at the house of Bikash Gautam in Maharajgunj. When they went to Singapore, they handed over that house to Gautam.< p>

Now, after returning from Hong Kong, it is uncertain where the Deuba couple will stay. Family members are searching for a place for Deuba to live, informed sources. According to sources, a house is being searched for Deuba in Lalitpur.< p>