KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu District Court has ordered the release of former minister Bikram Pandey and 10 others on bail in connection with the e-bidding scandal.

A single bench of Judge Churaman Khadka on Thursday directed Pandey to furnish bail of Rs 400,000 for his release.

The court also ordered Sanjay Bhatta of Tanahun and Bhaskar Raj Aryal of Kathmandu to post bail of Rs 1 million each, while Jiban Kumar Das of Sunsari and Sagar Katuwal of Makwanpur were asked to furnish Rs 500,000 each.

Likewise, Prakash Dhungana of Nuwakot, Amrit Bohora of Kathmandu, Anil Shrestha of Dolakha, Tanka Kumar Shrestha of Dhading, Swadesh Pokharel of Siraha, and Rishikesh Gauli of Kathmandu were ordered released on bail of Rs 400,000 each.

Meanwhile, the court sent Diwakar Deuja of Dhankuta to judicial custody for further trial proceedings.

The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police had arrested former minister Pandey and others on April 24 on charges of hacking the public procurement system and manipulating tender details.

A total of 22 individuals have been named defendants in the case.