A habeas corpus petition has been filed in Nepal’s Supreme Court seeking the release of CPN-UML Vice Chairman and former Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel. The petition was submitted on Wednesday by his wife, who claims that Poudel is being detained unlawfully.

The petition argues that his arrest and continued detention lack sufficient legal grounds and requests the court to order his immediate release. The Supreme Court is expected to conduct a preliminary hearing and determine the next course of action.

Poudel was arrested in Surkhet on Monday in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation. Following his arrest, he was brought to Kathmandu and presented before the Special Court on Tuesday. The court subsequently granted investigators permission to keep him in custody for further investigation.

His arrest has triggered significant political debate. The CPN-UML has criticized the detention process and questioned the manner of his arrest, while investigating authorities maintain that all actions have been carried out in accordance with existing laws and legal procedures.

As the investigation continues, the habeas corpus petition has added a new legal dimension to the case. The Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision is expected to have a significant impact on Poudel’s detention status and the broader legal proceedings surrounding the investigation.