KATHMANDU: The two judges—Dr. Khusi Prasad Tharu and Arjun Maharjan—who acquitted former Nepali Congress lawmaker Mohammad Aftab Alam in a murder case have been summoned by the Judicial Council.

In a meeting held on Thursday, the Judicial Council decided to relieve them of their current responsibilities and bring them under review.

Aftab Alam had been accused of orchestrating a deadly bomb-making operation at his residence in Rajpur Farhadawa, Rautahat, on the eve of the first Constituent Assembly elections in 2008.

At the time, he was a candidate and allegedly aimed to use the explosives to capture booths. However, the bomb exploded prematurely, injuring many. The injured were reportedly burned alive by being thrown into a brick kiln furnace to destroy evidence.

The Rautahat District Court later convicted Alam and sentenced him to life imprisonment. However, on Jestha 14 (May 28), a division bench of the Janakpur High Court’s Birgunj bench, led by Judges Tharu and Maharjan, overturned that verdict and acquitted him of all charges.

Following widespread criticism and public pressure over the controversial acquittal, the Judicial Council has now taken action against the judges involved.