Kathmandu, June 6:

The Supreme Court today summoned Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Shyam Sundar Gupta to appear before it to face a contempt of court charge.

A single bench of justice Kalyan Shrestha issued the order following a hearing.

The bench directed Gupta to appear before the court with a written explanation on why action should not be taken against him on the contempt charge.

Constituent Assembly member Sarita Giri had moved the court against Gupta, accusing him of misleading the court by not allowing Anandidevi, president of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi), to appear in the court and record her speech on her alleged abduction.

Appearing at the court on May 25, along with Gupta, Anandidevi had said she had been staying in her relative’s home and that nobody had abducted her.

“I have been living with my relatives and no one has abducted me,” Devi had told the apex court.

Giri, treasurer of the party, also accused Yashwont Singh and a few leaders of the party

of disrespecting the court by misleading it on the Anandidevi abduction case.