Nepal

Arun Kumar Chaudhary, a Nagarik Unmukti Party member of the House of Representatives, has been released after being pardoned by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

The President pardoned 395 convicted felons and inmates on Friday on the government's recommendation on the occasion of Democracy Day

Choudhary, who was elected from Kailali-2, was released from Kailali District Prison on Sunday morning.

NUP President Ranjita Shrestha and activists went to the prison to welcome Chowdhury, causing a roadblock some time.

Chaudhary was arrested in Banke on February 2 and sent to prison for a crime he committed more than 12 years ago.

A case was filed against MP Chaudhary, Pashuram Chaudhary and Bir Bahadur Chaudhary at the Kailali District Court on August 18, 2010, charging them with setting a tractor ablaze.

On April 22, 2013, the court sentenced them to six months imprisonment and a fine of Rs818,423. However, the accused had been absconding for almost a decade. 

Following Bir Bahadur Chaudhary's arrest a week earlier, MP Chaudhary was revealed to be the second accused.