The Special Court has granted investigators permission to keep CPN-UML Vice Chair and former finance minister Bishnu Paudel in custody for seven days.

The Department of Money Laundering Investigation (DMLI) on Tuesday produced Paudel before the court, seeking judicial authorisation to detain him following his arrest in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to controversial businessman Deepak Bhatta.

The court approved a seven-day remand, allowing investigators to continue the probe.

Paudel was arrested on Monday in connection with the ongoing money laundering investigation.

The DMLI, which has been investigating Paudel, obtained an arrest warrant, after which police in Surkhet district took him into custody.

Officials said Paudel was arrested after a businessman involved in Bhatta’s transactions gave a statement implicating him in the case.