Court extends Thapa’s remand

Kathmandu, August 8:

The Special Court today extended the custody of former general secretary of the Nepal Students’ Union, Gagan Thapa, for another five days. Following a hearing today, a three-member bench of Justices Govinda Prasad Parajuli, Rana Bahadur Bam and Bhoop Dhoj Adhikary said the government could detain Thapa for another five days. The bench, however, directed the government authorities to complete investigations within the given time frame.

“Decision on whether to file a case against him (Thapa) or to release him after completing all necessary investigation should be made within the given time frame,” the bench told the government prosecutor. During the hearing, the president of Nepal Bar Association (NBA), Shambhu Thapa, former law minister, Subash Chandra Nembang, NBA vice-president, Sher Bahadur KC and advocate Pushpa Bhushal, pleaded on behalf of Gagan. They said the charges against Thapa was baseless. This is the third time that the Special Court has authorised the government to keep Thapa in police custody to investigate charges of offence against the state against him. After today’s directive, Thapa said the King should be ready to face criticism till monarchy exists in the country. Outside the court premises, his supporters chanted anti-government slogans and collected signatures of people seeking his release. They also demanded full democracy be restored.