CHITWAN: The Chitwan District Court on Sunday remanded four persons including two Indian nationals in judicial custody for their alleged involvement in a rhino poaching case on August 8.

Sunil Mahato and Jeevan Mahato from Chitwan and Indian nationals Deepu Sashi from Kerala and Ritek Bhatt from Uttarakhand have been remanded to custody in connection to the case.

The Court, however, released five others on bail and general date.

Subash Gadal was released on Rs 50,000 bail and Bikas Darai, Biraja Mahato, Budharam Chaudary and Grijlala Kachhadia were released on the general date.

The order was issued by a single bench of district judge Tek Narayan Kunwar.

Earlier, accusing that the rhino was electrocuted due to negligence of staff of Meghauli Serai, a hotel in Narayani-1 of Meghauli, the Chitwan National Park had filed the case against nine hotel staff, including the hotel's manager on August 23.

The CNP had accused that the rhino had received the electric shock from the current passed into water by the hotel's staff.

The CNP had demanded actions against them as per section 26(1) of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973. If convicted, each of them would face an imprisonment from five to 15 years, or a fine from Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000 or both.