Former chief justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana, who was taken into police custody from his residence in Maharajgunj early Sunday, has been released into the care of relatives, police said.

Rameshwar Karki, superintendent of police at the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, said Rana had been handed over to his relatives.

“We will provide security at his home,” Karki said.

Police arrived at Rana’s residence at around 3am while he and his family members were asleep and took him with them, saying there was a security threat to him.

Rana told the officers he had not been informed of any such threat and asked them instead to deploy additional security personnel at his residence.

It remains unclear whether Rana was formally arrested or taken into custody for his protection. Police initially confirmed that he had been taken into custody. The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office later said he had been moved to a safe location because of a security threat.

Police have not publicly explained what the threat was, who or what posed it, or why Rana had to be taken from his home.

They have also not clarified whether Rana is the subject of any criminal investigation or legal proceedings.

The lack of details has left unclear the legal basis for taking the former chief justice from his residence and later releasing him into his relatives’ care.