Patan High Court orders release of Durga Prasai

The Patan High Court has ordered the release of medical businessman Durga Prasai, stating that his continued detention lacked sufficient legal grounds.

The court issued the decision after hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Prasai’s son. The bench concluded that although Prasai had been re-arrested on organized crime charges after being released on bail for a separate cybercrime case, the proper legal process was not followed in his second arrest.

Earlier, Prasai was arrested in November 2024 by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) for allegedly spreading false information under the Electronic Transactions Act. He was released on bail but was immediately re-arrested outside the court premises, triggering legal questions over the validity of that detention.

The High Court’s ruling emphasized that detaining an individual without clear and lawful justification violates constitutional rights. The judges ruled that Prasai should be released immediately.

While the court has ordered his release, other investigations—related to alleged banking offenses, money laundering, and extortion—are still ongoing. However, the High Court made it clear that any further legal action must follow due process.