Mar 17, Kathmandu- The Supreme Court has refused to release former Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, an accused in the fake Bhutanese refugee case.

A bench of Supreme Court Justices Kumar Chundal and Mahesh Sharma Poudel rejected the writ petition filed against Pandey seeking his release and refused to release him from prison. On 11 Magh 2081, former Secretary Pandey's wife Manju Pandey had filed a writ petition on his behalf. Earlier, the District and High Courts had refused to release Pandey on bail.

Former ministers Bal Krishna Khand and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and 16 others were sent to remand by the Kathmandu District Court on 1 Ashad 2080. Most of the defendants, including Pandey, who were remanded in custody for remand, had approached the Patan High Court against the Kathmandu District Court's order. On 15 Mangsir 2080, a joint bench of High Court judges Janak Pandey and Prakash Kharel upheld the district court's order to keep Pandey in remand. The order to send not only Pandey but also former minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, then Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, and then advisor to Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Dr. Indrajit Rai, who were directly involved in the fake refugee case, to remand was upheld.

The two judges had a difference of opinion on Khand's case. Later, when the case was presented before a third judge, Khand was released on bail of Rs 3 million.