Kathmandu — The Kathmandu District Court has ordered the release of Rastriya Swatantra Party central member and environmentalist Dr. Araniko Pandey on bail.

The order was issued by Judge Dhruvaraj Karki’s bench. Pandey had been arrested on Wednesday on charges of verbally abusing a woman through social media. The court had earlier extended his custody by four days for further investigation.

Dr. Pandey joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party under Rabi Lamichhane’s leadership in August 2022. In 2023, while the party was in government, he also served as a member of the National Planning Commission.