Patan, Dec 14: In a recent development, the Patan High Court has issued an order for the release of former minister Balkrishna Khan, who had been in custody pending trial in the case related to fake Bhutanese refugees. The court, under the jurisdiction of Justice Krishnaram Koirala’s bench, directed Khan’s release upon the submission of a bond amounting to Rs 30 lakhs.

According to the court’s order, Sections 68 and 72 of the Civil Code of Criminal Procedure 2047 were cited in determining that Balkrishna Khan’s remand in custody by the Kathmandu District Court on 8/1/2080 was deemed void. The court further emphasized that the bail, surety, or bank guarantee of Rs. specified in the opinion dated 2080/08/15 must be maintained for a reevaluation of the case on the scheduled date.

The resolution comes after a mixed opinion was delivered by the joint bench of Justices Prakash Kharel and Janak Pandey on November 15. The court had instructed the case to be presented before a third judge specifically for matters related to mining. Today’s decision by the court follows a thorough hearing.

In its final judgment, the court upheld the Kathmandu District Court’s order to detain nine of the defendants in the dispute, while overturning the decision to keep six other defendants in custody. The latter were instead directed to seek bail, marking a significant shift in the legal proceedings surrounding the high-profile case.

This decision brings a new twist to the ongoing legal saga, and the implications of the Patan High Court’s ruling are expected to reverberate through the legal and political landscape in the coming days.