Bishnu Paudel Released Without Bail by Special Court

Former Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel will remain out of custody as he faces a money laundering case after the Special Court ruled that the available evidence does not justify detention or the posting of bail at this stage of the proceedings.

Court Finds No Immediate Basis for Detention

A joint bench of judges Narayan Prasad Paudel, Dilliratna Shrestha and Bidur Koirala concluded that the evidence presented so far does not directly establish Bishnu Paudel’s involvement to the extent required for a pretrial detention order.

The court also noted that Paudel denied the allegations during his statement and that the prosecution has not, at this stage, demonstrated any financial transactions between him and Deepak Bhatt or shown that Paudel received assets or any other financial benefit linked to the alleged offence.

On that basis, the bench held that neither detention nor a bail requirement was warranted, allowing the case to proceed while Paudel remains on ordinary court attendance.

Investigation Continues Outside Custody

The Department of Money Laundering Investigation took Paudel into custody in Surkhet on June 22 (Asar 8).

With the Special Court’s latest order, he will now participate in the remaining legal proceedings without being held in custody.

The ruling addresses only the question of pretrial custody and does not determine the merits of the charges, which will be examined as the case moves forward.