Kathmandu : The High Court Patan has ordered the release of Balkrishna Khand on a bail of Rs 3 million, upholding the decision issued earlier by Judge Pandey.

Hearing the petition on Thursday, a single bench of Judge Krishna Ram Koirala ordered the release of Khand, upholding the verdict issued earlier by Judge Janak Pandey.

The petition of Khand had been referred to a third judge after a joint bench comprising Judges Pandey and Prakash Kharel were divided over Khand on December 1.

Kharel was of the view that Khand be retained in the jail while Pandy was in favor of releasing him on a bail Rs 3 million and continuing the investigation.

Hence, the final hearing on the case of Khand has been scheduled for today. Koirala upheld the decision of Judge Pandey.

A spokesperson at the Patan High Court, Thirtha Raj Bhattarai, informed that Judge Krishna Ram Koirala’s bench ordered the release of former minister Khand on bail.

Earlier, Patan High Court on Dec 1 ordered former Home Minister Khand and former minister Top Bahadur Raymajhi to remain in custody for Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam.