Kathmandu, April 28

The Supreme Court today ordered the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority to furnish reasons for detaining journalist and Sajha Yatayat Chairman Kanak Mani Dixit.

The apex court passed the order in a petition for a writ of habeas corpus field by Dixit’s wife Shanta yesterday. Dixit, who faces the charge of amassing wealth illegally, remains in CIAA’s detention since Friday.

The Supreme Court also ordered the CIAA to present Dixit at the court at 11:00 am on Monday when a hearing on whether or not his detention was illegal would be held, according to Assistant Spokesperson for the SC Bishwa Raj Paudel.

Dixit who is suffering from high blood pressure remains hospitalised.

Shanta has also sought nullification of the Special Court’s order, which allowed the anti-graft body to detain Dixit for 10 days, to carry out investigation into the charge against him of amassing property illegally.

She has said in the petition that while her husband had notified the CIAA that he was ready to cooperate in the investigation and was willing to furnish details in writing as and when demanded by the CIAA, he should not have been arrested by the CIAA.

She said that her husband’s arrest was a vengeful act of the anti-graft body.

The petitioner said that as per the Supreme Court’s order passed in a writ petition filed by her husband which is still sub judice, the decision to launch an investigation against Dixit should be made by a majority vote of the commissioners and in this case that condition had not been fulfilled by the commission.

Shanta also stated in the petition that the CIAA violated laws by not producing her husband before the court within 24 hours of his arrest and the SC passed an order without hearing her husband’s arguments.

Shanta has named, among others, the CIAA, its chief Lok Man Singh Karki, Nepal Police Headquarters and Special Court as defendants.