KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court on Monday issued a show-cause notice to the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) in a contempt of court petition.

After a preliminary hearing on the writ, filed by Kanak Mani Dixit's wife Shanta Dixit on April 24, a single bench of Justice Govinda Kumar Upadhyay decided to seek a written clarification from the anti-graft constitutional body and its chief, Lokman Singh Karki, in three days.

On April 10, the CIAA had arrested Kanak Mani Dixit, the chairman of Sajha Yatayat, for investigation into his properties that, it said, were disproportionate to his valid source of income and corruption charges against him.

Subsequently, Shanta Dixit resorted to the apex court, arguing that the arrest disrespected the SC's previous order not to arrest her husband or launch any investigation against him without making any decision through a majority vote of the commissioners at the anti-graft body. According to her, the case was sub judice.

The SC had ordered Dixit's release on a general date after hearing the writ of habeas corpus on May 2.