KATHMANDU: The Special Court on Tuesday granted permission to police to keep CPN-UML Vice-Chairman Bishnu Prasad Paudel in custody for seven days for further investigation into money laundering offenses.

According to Parvati Hitan, the information officer for the Special Court, a bench comprising judges Narayan Prasad Paudel, Hemanta Rawal, and Umesh Koirala issued the order following a heated debate between government attorneys and defense lawyers representing Paudel.

Paudel, a prominent leader of the opposition party, was arrested by authorities in Surkhet on Monday before being brought to Kathmandu for his court appearance.