KATHMANDU: A habeas corpus petition was filed at the Supreme Court on Wednesday by Domaya Paudel, seeking the immediate release of her husband, former Deputy Prime Minister and CPN (UML) Vice Chairman Bishnu Paudel, claiming his arrest and detention are illegal and politically motivated.

Paudel was arrested on Monday while attending an event in Surkhet and transported overnight to Kathmandu.

The Department of Money Laundering Investigation is currently holding him in police custody following a Special Court ruling on Tuesday that extended his detention for further investigation.

Asserting that Poudel was detained without evidence or legal basis, the petition demands his release, with a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Thursday.