The Rautahat District Court has remanded CK Raut, coordinator of the Free Madhes Campaign, to judicial custody.

The single bench of Judge Ambika Prasad Niraula on Thursday handed down the remand order against Raut, who had remained in police detention for the past two months.

Raut is accused of instigating organised crime against the state. Rautahat police had detained Raut from the premises of Rautahat District Court on October 7. He had a court appearance that day for a separate case.  

Superintendent of Police Kedar Dhakal said Raut was under investigation for fomenting organised crime against the state.

“We have charged Raut with organised crime after our investigation found that he and his supporters were conspiring against the state,” SP Dhakal said.   

The local administration had strengthened the security in Gaur area on Thursday for Raut’s court appearance. Following the court’s ruling, he was sent to Rautahat District Prison.

In November, Raut was presented to the Supreme Court in Kathmandu after his supporters filed a habeas corpus petition demanding his release. The petition was quashed on December 2.