KATHMANDU: A joint bench of Justices Nahakul Subedi and Balkrishna Dhakal of the Supreme Court has rejected a habeas corpus petition filed by Nikita Poudel, the wife of Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane.

The petition had sought his release from custody in connection with the Supreme Cooperative fraud case.

With this ruling, Lamichhane will remain in custody until the Rupandehi District Court delivers a final verdict in the ongoing fraud case.

He will be released only if fully acquitted by the District Court.

Lamichhane was detained after the Butwal bench of the Tulsipur High Court overturned an earlier ruling by the Rupandehi District Court, which had previously declined to order his detention.

In response to the High Court’s decision, Lamichhane had filed a habeas corpus petition at the Supreme Court, claiming that his detention was unlawful.

He also filed a separate petition seeking to annul the High Court’s order.

Both challenges have now been dismissed by the Supreme Court.