Dhan Bahadur KC, a Lumbini Provincial Assembly member, who had surrendered to the court on Sunday, was released after paying a fine in place of serving a prison sentence on Monday. He is a convict in a case of government document forgery.

Nepali Congress lawmaker KC, who was elected from Rukum East 1(b), had misused the court's letterhead, seal, and signature to send a letter stating that his wife did not need to appear in court, when a decision had been made on their divorce case. Upon discovering the forgery, his wife, Radha KC, filed a case of document forgery. In the case, the District Court of Rukum on June 23, 1991 sentenced KC to one year in prison and imposed a fine of Rs2,000.

KC had absconded immediately after the verdict but appeared before the Rukum East District Court on Sunday, 33 years later. As per the provisions of Section 155 of the Criminal Code 2017, individuals sentenced to up to one year in prison can be exempted from serving jail time by paying a fine. KC paid Rs109,200 and was released on Monday.

The bench of Judge Lok Bahadur Hamal ordered KC's release after the fine was paid. The amount was calculated at the rate of Rs300 per day to be served in a prison, Radha Krishna Rijal, the acting registrar of the district court said.

According to sources, KC was not held in prison on Sunday night either. As there is no prison in Rukum East, he was taken to Rukum West on Sunday but was held at the District Police Office instead of the prison. He was released from there on Monday, according to police sources.