The Special Court on Thursday allowed authorities to keep former finance minister and CPN-UML vice-chair Bishnu Paudel in custody for an additional six days in connection with a money laundering investigation.

The court granted the third extension after the Department of Money Laundering Investigation sought additional time for questioning during ongoing inquiries under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

A bench comprising judges Hemanta Rawal, Dilliraj Raut, and Umesh Koirala issued the order, after which Paudel was sent to judicial custody for further proceedings.

Paudel was arrested in Surkhet on June 22 in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to controversial businessman Deepak Bhatta. The DMLI had issued an arrest warrant, following which the Surkhet Police took him into custody.

Investigators allege that Paudel abused his authority while in office to facilitate an equity purchase for Bhatta. The transaction is currently under scrutiny as part of a broader money laundering probe. Bhatta is already in judicial custody on separate money laundering charges.

The Supreme Court on June 25 issued a show-cause order to various government agencies, seeking their explanation on the arrest and detention of Paudel.