KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to release CPN (UML) Vice Chairman and former Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, ordering the retrieval of his original case files from the Department of Money Laundering Investigation.

A joint bench of Justices Tek Prasad Dhungana and Meghraj Pokharel ordered the acquisition of relevant files pushing the next hearing to Thursday.

Paudel was arrested in Surkhet on June 22 on money laundering charges, and Special Court recently extended his remand until July 1.

His wife, Domaya Paudel, had filed a habeas corpus petition on June 24 claiming illegal detention and demanding his immediate release.

With the Supreme Court demanding more documents, Paudel will remain in custody for now.