Kathmandu. Former Maharashtra minister Raj Kumar Gupta has been released on bail of Rs 50 lakh. The Pokhara High Court has ordered the release of Gupta, who was arrested in the Lichibari case, on bail.

A division bench of Justices Saranga Subedi and Sunil Kumar Pokharel issued the order to release Gupta on bail of Rs 50 lakh.

Earlier, the Special Court Kathmandu had remanded Gupta to judicial custody on Poush 16, 2082 BS. However, the Supreme Court overturned the special order and ordered Gupta to be released on bail.

He is accused of taking a bribe of Rs 53 lakh from a real estate entrepreneur. He had taken the bribe on the promise of stopping the transfer of the chief officers of the Land Revenue Office and making them members of the Land Commission. A corruption case was filed against him on October 9, 2082 after evidence of taking bribe was found.

The Special Court had ordered the release of former minister Ranjita Shrestha on bail of Rs 5 lakh. However, the Supreme Court has said that the special court’s order to release him on bail is correct even though the government has filed a petition demanding that he be kept in custody for investigation.