KATHMANDU, Aug 11: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an order detaining suspended state secretary Chudamani Sharma. The order was passed by a bench headed by Justice Binod Sharma and asked the special court, the prison administration, the Abuse of Power Investigation Commission and the Trial and Case Division of the Supreme Court to submit their reasons for Sharma’s detention.
Chudamani Sharma had filed a petition in the Supreme Court alleging that his detention was illegal and the result of actions of these four agencies. On Friday, he approached the Supreme Court seeking direct intervention on the grounds that he was being detained illegally.
Sharma demanded that he be allowed to challenge the decision of the special court from outside the prison. The special court had sentenced him to nine years in prison and a fine of Rs 6,157 crore. Sharma was imprisoned as he could not pay the fine or bail.
Under criminal law, people sentenced to ten years or more can file an appeal during their sentence. However, Sharma, who was sentenced to nine years, argued that he was compelled to remain in prison as he could not afford the required bail, so he immediately approached the Supreme Court.
