Three people, including industrialist Arun Chaudhary, who were earlier arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police over the charge of illegal privatization of land owned by Bansbari Leather and Shoes Factory, have been released.

They were freed today following the verdict of the District Court in Kathmandu, with the condition of presenting themselves before the police when summoned, according to CIB Spokesperson and Superintendent of Police, Nawaraj Adhikari. Champion Footwear Limited proprietor Chaudhary, the then executive chair of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, Ajit Narayan Singh Thapa, and CG Chandbag Residency Pvt Ltd proprietor Sanjay Thakur were arrested over the scam.

As the CIB said, the three were released after the court verdict. However, an investigation into the scam is ongoing. A bench of Kathmandu District Court judge Yagya Prasad Acharya on Monday ordered the CIB to complete the investigation process into the matter by releasing the three with the condition of presenting themselves before the police when required.