Former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, who was convicted in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam, has been released from prison.
According to an employee at the Dilli Bazar Prison Office, Rayamajhi was released early Thursday morning.
His release follows an order issued by the Kathmandu District Court.
The court had ordered his release, granting him a reduction in his prison sentence under the Senior Citizens Act after determining that he was eligible for the provision, having crossed the age of 65.
On July 14, the Kathmandu District Court had sentenced Rayamajhi to four years in prison after finding him guilty in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.
He had been in custody since May 14, 2023.
Rayamajhi had filed a petition with the court seeking concessions available to senior citizens.
Under Section 12 of the Senior Citizens Act, 2006, senior citizens aged 65 or above but below 70 are eligible for up to a 25 percent reduction in their prison sentence.
The court had found him guilty of fraud, organized crime, and offenses against the state.
Although sentences were imposed for multiple offenses, he was sentenced to a maximum of four years’ imprisonment for integrated offenses.
