Activist and Medical Entrepreneur Durga Prasai Released

Kathmandu – The Supreme Court has ordered the release of medical entrepreneur and activist Durga Prasai, who was arrested for making serious allegations against Election Commission officials.

A joint bench of Justices Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma and Meghraj Pokharel issued a writ in Prasai’s favor on Tuesday evening, ordering his immediate release. Along with ordering his release, the court has also scheduled a date for a full hearing of the case.

Prasai was arrested by the police on Falgun 4 (February 16) based on a letter from the Election Commission. He was accused of spreading rumors aimed at disrupting the Commission’s work. Prasai had claimed that Election Commission officials took money to grant Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa the party’s official status, a claim the Commission deemed objectionable and rumor-mongering, subsequently filing a complaint with the police.

Supporters of Prasai had demonstrated at various locations demanding his release. His lawyers filed a writ petition in the court arguing that his freedom of expression had been violated.

Prasai has been released following a court order. After his release, he said that the allegations against him were false and that he had the right to question the functioning of the Election Commission. He pledged to continue raising his voice against such irregularities in the coming days.