Court Debates Extension of Investigation Period for Bishnu Poudel on Money Laundering Charge

Kathmandu. A debate has taken place in court regarding the extension of the investigation period for former Deputy Prime Minister and CPN-UML Vice Chairman Bishnu Poudel on charges of money laundering.

Former Attorney General and senior advocate Ramesh Badals, arguing for Poudel, has demanded that the investigation be conducted while keeping him out of custody.

Senior advocate Badals argued that Poudel is not in a situation to flee, and therefore, it is not appropriate to detain him by issuing an urgent arrest warrant. During the debate, Badals questioned why Poudel was suddenly arrested while he was busy with pre-scheduled party programs.

He told the bench, 'Why was he arrested immediately while he was in a program according to the party's schedule? If he had been called, he would have appeared here himself today. Let the investigation be conducted while keeping him out of custody, not in detention.'

The Department of Money Laundering Investigation had demanded a 20-day extension from the court on Tuesday to proceed with the investigation by keeping UML Vice Chairman Poudel in custody.