Suspended Governor released on bail

The Special Court Friday released the suspended Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Bijay Nath Bhattarai, who is facing corruption charges, on Rs 250,000 bail.

Following a hearing today, a bench comprising justices Bhup Dhoj Adhikari, Komal Nath Sharma and Cholendra Shumsher Rana granted him bail.

Bhattarai, who remained in overnight police custody, deposited the bail amount today itself and walked free.

On Monday, the three-member bench had asked Bhattarai to appear before the court within 15 days. On the same day, the bench released co-accused Surendra Man Pradhan, the executive director of the bank's Financial Institutions Regulation Department, on Rs 50,000 bail.

Bhattarai and Pradhan have been accused of embezzling Rs 24.5 million in terminating a contract of a foreign company in the multi-million dollar Financial Sector Reforms Programme launched with foreign aid.

The CIAA had filed the graft case against the NRB bosses on June 28. nepalnews.com mk July 06 07

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