Kathmandu, Nov 23: Medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai has been released from police custody. He was freed after the Supreme Court issued an order for his release.
The order came during the hearing of a habeas corpus petition filed by his son, Nirajan Prasai. The Supreme Court directed that Prasai, who is also the coordinator of the National, Nationality, Religion–Culture and Citizen Protection Campaign, be released from detention.
A joint bench of Justices Nahakul Subedi and Shrikant Paudel issued the order in response to the habeas corpus petition filed by Nirajan Prasai, directing authorities to immediately release him.
The Court noted that detaining Prasai solely for his expressions would violate the constitutional right to freedom of expression. The order further stated that, given the changed circumstances—including an agreement reached with the government to allow the campaign’s program on Saturday to proceed peacefully—no further investigation or detention was necessary regarding the charges against him. Consequently, the arrest warrant and subsequent detention extensions were annulled.
Prasai was arrested from his residence in Bhaktapur at midnight on Mangsir 2 on charges of making statements that could disturb public order. The campaign had earlier announced protests, including a Nepal Banda (closure) starting Mangsir 7, today, but all protest programs were withdrawn following an agreement with the government on Saturday. #nepal #durga
