KATHMANDU:- The Supreme Court has ordered the authorities to present businessman Deepak Bhatta, who is in police custody on the charge of money laundering, in the court within 24 hours.
Hearing a writ petition of habeas corpus filed by Bhatta’s wife, Ayushma Nepal, a single bench of Justice Abdul Aziz Musalman on Wednesday issued an order to present Bhatta in court within 24 hours of the date, excluding the travel time after receiving the order.
Bhatta’s wife had on May 1 filed the petition of habeas corpus naming the Kathmandu District Court, Department of Money Laundering Investigation, Central Investigation Bureau and Metropolitan Police Sector, Lalitpur, as defendants.
The SC ordered to submit a written response through the Office of the Attorney General after presenting Bhatta in court within 24 hours, excluding travel time. The SC also asked to collect a copy of each file under investigation through the Office of the Attorney General and return the file on the same day.
The Department of Immigration had put Bhatta on the blacklist on March 31. Sending a letter, the Department of Money Laundering Investigation had requested the Department of Immigration to restrict Bhatta from travelling abroad.