The Supreme Court has decided not to release Rabindra Joshi, the treasurer of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), and accounts officer Sanjiv Pandey, who are currently in police custody as part of an ongoing investigation.
Various benches of the Supreme Court reviewed habeas corpus petitions filed by the wives of both officials, who argued that their husbands were being held unlawfully.
A joint bench, including Justices Abdul Aziz Musalman and Balkrishna Dhakal, denied the release of Joshi. Similarly, Justices Mahesh Sharma Paudel and Sunil Kumar Pokharel also refused to release Pandey.
The court instructed that both cases should remain with their respective files and be processed according to the law. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police arrested Joshi and Pandey on September 18 after a search at the ANFA headquarters in Satdobato. The Lalitpur District Court later approved their continued detention for investigative purposes.
Police are investigating allegations of match-related irregularities, potential fraud, and financial issues within ANFA. This investigation includes aspects such as match arrangements, player kit purchases, and World Cup ticket sales. Authorities have also seized electronic devices for forensic analysis.
The investigation into the allegations against both officials is ongoing, and the Supreme Court’s ruling pertains to their detention during this investigation, not a judgment on their guilt.