The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority in a contempt of court petition.

A single bench of Justice Govinda Kumar Upadhyay on Monday issued the notice seeking written clarification from the anti-graft body and its chief, Lokman Singh Karki, within three days.

The petition was filed by Shanta Dixit, arguing that the arrest of her husband Kanak Mani Dixit by the CIAA had violated the SC order not to arrest him or launch any investigation against him without a decision by a majority of the CIAA commissioners.

The CIAA had taken Dixit into custody on April 22 on the basis of complaints that he had amassed property disproportionate to his known sources of income. The commission had charged him with violating the law by defying orders and not cooperating with it despite repeated notices.

The SC had ordered Dixit’s release on a general date after hearing the writ of habeas corpus on May 2.