KATHMANDU: A Supreme Court bench of Justices Kumar Regmi and Shrikanta Paudel has issued a writ of habeas corpus declaring the detention of former CPN (UML) lawmaker Laxmi Mahato Koiri illegal and directing his immediate release.

Following a petition filed by Koiri’s son, the court instructed Jaleshwar Prison to release him today, provided he is not required to be detained for other charges.

Koiri had been arrested on July 1, 2026, to serve a five-year prison sentence handed down by the Janakpur High Court for his involvement in the 2015 murder of Armed Police Force ASI Thaman BK during the Madhesh movement.