KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu District Court has granted police permission to keep Kishor Shrestha, editor of Jana Aastha weekly, in custody for four more days for investigation.
Police presented Shrestha before the court on Monday, seeking an extension of his detention. The court had previously authorized his detention for three days. After that period expired, police requested additional time, stating that the investigation had not yet been completed. The court subsequently granted a further four days.
Meanwhile, a habeas corpus petition challenging Shrestha’s arrest as unlawful is scheduled for hearing at the Supreme Court on Monday. The petition has been assigned to a joint bench of Justices Nahakul Subedi and Balkrishna Dhakal.
Shrestha was arrested last Wednesday by a joint team from the Valley Crime Investigation Office and the Kathmandu District Police Range. Police said he was arrested for investigation over an alleged offense under the Privacy Act 2018.
The detention and the habeas corpus petition have drawn attention to both the ongoing criminal investigation and questions surrounding the legality of Shrestha’s arrest.
