Kathmandu: The Supreme Court has ordered that the detention period of KP Sharma Oli and Ramesh Lekhak cannot be extended further.

A joint bench of Justices Binod Sharma and Sunil Kumar Pokharel on Monday dismissed the habeas corpus petition but issued a mandamus directing authorities not to prolong their custody beyond the legally permitted period.

Oli and Lekhak were arrested on Chaitra 14 following recommendations from an inquiry commission led by former Justice Gauri Bahadur Karki. On Sunday, the Kathmandu District Court had granted police a third extension, allowing them to remain in custody for five days.

After hearing arguments on Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that if the authorities decide to move forward with filing a case, they must do so within the given timeframe. If they fail to proceed, the court has ordered that both individuals must be released after completing necessary legal procedures under Section 15 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 2074.

The court order states that no additional extensions can be granted beyond the current period. If the case is not filed within the deadline, Oli and Lekhak must be released from custody after Chaitra 26 while allowing further investigation to continue as required by law.

This ruling effectively sets a final deadline for prosecutors, ensuring that the case either proceeds formally or the two leaders are freed.