Kathmandu. The Patan High Court has ordered the release of former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara on bail of Rs 20 lakh.

A division bench of Justices Arjun Prasad Koirala and Tejendra Prasad Sharma Sapkota issued the order today. Mahara was arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police in the second week of September. Former Speaker Mahara was accused of smuggling gold through vape.

“The court has annulled the order dated October 29 to keep the defendant in custody on the basis of immediate evidence,” the order issued by the Patan High Court reads.