Kathmandu, Oct 5: Authorities have begun moving high-profile inmates out of Dillibazar Prison, long considered the preferred jail for politicians, senior officials and other prominent detainees.
Businessman Deepak Bhatta, who had been held at Nakkhu Prison, was transferred to Sindhupalchok Prison on Saturday following instructions from the Department of Prison Management.
Bhatta faces charges related to money laundering, insurance law violations and securities offences. While Kathmandu District Court granted him bail of Rs 15 million in the insurance case and Rs 10 million in the securities case, the Special Court ordered him into judicial custody in the money laundering case.
Bhatta and Shankar Group’s Sulav Agrawal were sent to Dillibazar Prison on June 17 after the Special Court ordered their detention pending trial. The money laundering cases involve claims of Rs 26.63 billion against Bhatta and Rs 25.59 billion against Agrawal.
Dillibazar has traditionally been the preferred prison for high-profile detainees because of its open space, central Kathmandu location and easier access for visitors. Detainees sometimes request transfer there through their lawyers.
However, Bhatta was moved to Nakkhu only 15 days after arriving at Dillibazar. Former Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Director General Pradeep Adhikari, another high-profile inmate, was transferred around the same time to the Central Jail in Sundhara.
Officials say prisoners receive essentially the same facilities regardless of where they are held, although Dillibazar remains attractive because it is less congested and easier for visitors to reach.
Former Armed Police Force DIG Ranjan Koirala, convicted of murdering his wife, had spent eight and a half years at Dillibazar. After being rearrested when the Supreme Court restored his original sentence, Koirala requested Dillibazar through his lawyers but was instead sent to Sundhara.
Authorities have increasingly transferred inmates from Dillibazar following reports of controversial activities and possible attempts to exert influence from inside the prison.
Several prominent figures have previously been held there, including former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, former ministers Shyam Sundar Gupta and Khum Bahadur Khadka, former lawmaker Bal Krishna Dhungel and former IGP Om Bikram Rana.
Several high-profile inmates remain at Dillibazar, including former Madhesh Province chief Rajesh Ahiraj, UML leader and former minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former lawmaker Ichchha Raj Tamang, Sunil Paudel, Bikal Paudel and former CAAN Director General Sanjib Gautam.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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