KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has ordered the release of former Minister Rajkumar Gupta on bail of Rs 5 million in a corruption case related to alleged bribery.

A written order issued by a division bench of Justices Sharanga Subedi and Sunil Kumar Pokharel states that Gupta will be released from custody once the bail amount is deposited.

Gupta had been placed in judicial custody by the Special Court in Kathmandu after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a corruption case against him.

He is accused of accepting bribes to facilitate the transfer of Land Revenue officials while serving as Minister for General Administration.

In a separate development, the Supreme Court has also directed the Attorney General’s Office to submit a written explanation within 24 hours regarding the arrest of medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai.

The order was issued by a single bench of Justice Mahesh Sharma Poudel in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by advocate Ashish Luintel, seeking clarification on the grounds of Prasai’s detention.