The Supreme Court has ordered journalist Kishor Shrestha to be presented before the court.
On Friday, a single bench of Justice Bal Krishna Dhakal issued the order during a hearing on a habeas corpus petition, directing that Shrestha be brought to court on August 17.
"What has happened in this matter? Why should an order not be issued as demanded by the petitioner? If such an order should not be issued, submit a written response through the Office of the Attorney General, along with the detainee in person, by 10 a.m. on August 17, stating the grounds and reasons," the order states.
Additionally, the court has ordered that two laptops seized by the police from Shrestha's house and six CPUs taken from the Jana Aastha Weekly’s office be brought to the court.
"Be present on August 17 along with the investigation file, including the complaint registered against the detainee, as well as the CPUs, laptops, iPad, and mobile phones recovered from his house and office, which are to be shown to the bench and taken back," the order reads.
Senior advocates Tikaram Bhattarai and Ramesh Badal pleaded on behalf of Shrestha.
Shrestha’s wife, Saraswati Shrestha, filed a habeas corpus petition on Thursday, alleging that he was being unlawfully detained. Following the preliminary hearing on her petition, the bench ordered him to be presented before the Supreme Court.
On Thursday, the Kathmandu District Court granted a three-day remand to keep Shrestha in custody for investigation.
Shrestha is currently in the custody of the District Police Range, Kathmandu.
He was arrested by the police on Wednesday night after a woman filed a complaint accusing him of an offense relating to individual privacy.
Police searched journalist Shrestha's house on Wednesday night itself, and on Thursday morning, they searched the office of Jana Aastha Weekly.
