Kathmandu. The Patan High Court has refused to release the famous ticket collector Tulsa Adhikari (Tulsa Collection) from jail immediately. The High Court upheld the order of the Lalitpur District Court to keep him in custody pending trial in cases related to criminal gains, organized crime and money laundering.
While hearing the appeal given by the officer against the order of the district court, the joint bench of judges Khadka Bahadur KC and Keshav Prasad Adhikari of the High Court of Patan held that there is no need to change the order of the district court.
A demand of 21 crore 12 lakh 20 thousand 406 rupees and 16 paise has been made against the officer. According to sections 3 and 8 of the Prevention of Organized Crime Act, 2070, he has been accused of taking criminal benefits (extortion), changing the source and location of assets acquired through hundi and committing an offense against the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2064.
The High Court has also mentioned the grounds that the officer should be kept in custody based on the evidence immediately obtained. According to the court, the statement of Jaherwala Kumar Chamoria and the application with additional details, the documents and the police report given by Vina Kumari Chamoria, Navraj Acharya, Rudraprasad Acharya, Hemraj Rasaili and Neetu Gusal and others have been taken as evidence.
Similarly, the court has also considered the fact that the official admitted his relationship with Zaherwala in his statement before the court and mentioned that the lack of transactions in the income-expenditure statement submitted to the relevant government agency by his name ‘Tulsa Collection Pvt. Ltd.’ was his weakness.
The High Court is of the view that the preliminary detention order passed by the Lalitpur District Court on 21st May 2081 is in accordance with the law.
With this order of the High Court, the officer will remain in custody pending the final decision of the case.