The Supreme Court on Friday upheld an order sending Pradeep Adhikari, the suspended director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, to judicial custody for trial.

A bench of Justices Hari Prasad Phuyal and Shanti Singh Thapa endorsed the Special Court’s ruling, rejecting Adhikari’s plea for release on bail filed under a petition.

With the ruling, Adhikari will remain in custody. The Special Court had earlier ordered his detention on December 7.

The order was issued by a joint bench of Judges Hemanta Rawal, Dilliratna Shrestha and Bidur Koirala.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority filed a corruption case on December 3 against Adhikari and others. According to the CIAA, the case seeks to recover Rs135.74 million from the accused and impose an equal amount in fines.

Adhikari also faces charges over alleged irregularities in several other projects, including the authority’s office building in Sinamangal, the regional international airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa, and the procurement of airport operations-related technology in Pokhara.

Earlier complaints to the CIAA had claimed the Nalinchok helipad was built on 32 ropani of CAAN land without an environmental impact assessment, raising concerns about lapses in procedural compliance and the project’s necessity. The helipad was inaugurated on June 21, 2024, by then tourism minister Hit Bahadur Tamang and Adhikari.