Opposition parties have demanded that the government explain in Parliament why former chief justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana was taken into police custody and released later.

They also questioned the government’s justification for taking Rana into custody, amid claims that he faced a security threat.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, CPN-UML chief whip Ain Bahadur Mahar accused the government of violating the rule of law by detaining the former chief justice.

“The government is presenting itself as the state while violating the law and the rule of law,” Mahar said. “This government received a two-thirds mandate not to violate the law and the rule of law, but to strengthen and consolidate them.”

Mahar said Rana was arrested without any offence or charge.

Yubaraj Dulal, chief whip of the Nepali Communist Party, demanded that the government give Parliament a clear explanation for Rana’s detention.

Dulal said several former prime ministers and other prominent figures had been detained and later released since the government was formed, and demanded that the government explain the reasons behind such arrests.

He also questioned whether Rana’s detention was intended to divert public attention from the recent natural disasters.

“At a time when the government should be focused on disaster relief, its attention has been diverted elsewhere,” he said.

Dulal said the detention without a warrant or clear reason raised questions about whether the country was following the rule of law or moving towards anarchy.

Shram Sanskriti Party lawmaker Dhurba Raj Rai also questioned the government’s handling of arrests involving former senior officials and other prominent figures.

Rai questioned whether the government was handling such arrests seriously or acting without a clear basis.

Bharat Giri, Rastriya Prajatantra Party lawmaker, said the government should have strengthened Rana’s security if there was a genuine security threat, rather than detaining him.

Giri said Rana was taken from his home at night and that even human rights activists were prevented from meeting him, calling for Parliament to examine the legality of the government’s actions.

Mahar and Dulal both questioned the government’s claim that Rana faced a security threat from Gen Z, with Mahar accusing it of discrediting the movement and calling for those posing threats to be identified, while Dulal asked why Rana was detained instead of those allegedly threatening him.

A team of the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Yograj Khatiwada, reached Rana’s residence in Maharajgunj at around 12:30am on Sunday. Police took him into custody at around 2am.

Rana was released at around 2pm on Monday, about 12 hours after he was taken into custody.

Police have not publicly explained what specific security threat prompted them to take Rana to the police office, or what action was taken during his detention to address that threat.