Bhutanese Refugee Leader Released on Bail
After seven months in custody, Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rijal has been released from jail after posting bail. His detention was linked to a case of fake Bhutanese refugee documents.
Taylor Brooks
- 2023-12-27
- Updated 12:05 PM ET
(NewsNibs) - Bhutanese community leader Teknath Rijal was released this Wednesday following a court order after he was able to post the requisite bail amount. Rijal had been detained for seven months in connection with allegations related to falsifying Bhutanese refugee documents. The Patan High Court had set the bail at 1.5 million Nepalese rupees on Mansir 15, but difficulties in raising the amount resulted in further delays for Rijal's release. His associate, Vishwanath Kshetri, indicated that they could not initially afford the bail, which led to Rijal spending nearly an additional month in Sundhara jail.
Gratitude and Future Court Appearance
Upon his release, Rijal expressed his deep appreciation to those who supported him during his incarceration. After eventually posting the bail amount at the Kathmandu District Court on a Sunday evening, a delay that spanned public holidays postponed his release further until Wednesday. As part of his release conditions, Rijal is mandated to appear before the Kathmandu District Court on Poush 20.
Other Related Releases and Incarcerations
In related developments, former Minister of Home Affairs Balkrishna Khand and several other individuals associated with the case have also been released after posting their respective bail amounts as determined by the high court. This group includes individuals like Sandeep, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, and others who met the bail conditions stipulated by the court. Despite these releases, some key figures such as former Secretary Teknarayan Pandey, former Deputy Prime Minister Rayamajhi, and Indrajit Rai remain in jail awaiting their trial for their alleged association with the fake refugee documentation scandal.
The release of Teknath Rijal and others marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings tied to the Bhutanese refugee documentation case. The case has brought to light challenges within Nepal's refugee management systems and has highlighted the lengthy judicial process for those awaiting trial. The forthcoming court appearances are anticipated to shed more clarity on the intricacies of the case and the legal outcomes for those implicated.
