Shankarlal Agarwal Back in Custody: Special Court Orders Detention in Money Laundering Case

30th September 2026, Kathmandu

Prominent Nepalese businessman and Shankar Group Chairman Shankarlal Agarwal has been sent back to judicial custody by the Special Court in a money laundering case.

This development comes shortly after the Supreme Court had previously ordered his release on bail in a separate banking offense case. Read the full legal timeline and updates here.

Key Highlights

Court Order: The Special Court has ordered the detention of Shankar Group Chairman Shankarlal Agarwal in connection with a money laundering case.

Bench: The order was issued by a joint bench comprising Special Court Chairperson Vasudev Acharya and Judges Hemant Rawal and Bidur Koirala.

Previous Supreme Court Relief: Earlier on August 31, the Supreme Court had ordered his release on bail of NPR 100,000 in a separate banking offense case.

Ongoing Judicial Proceedings: Despite being granted bail by the Supreme Court, Agarwal appeared before the Special Court regarding the money laundering charges, which resulted in a new order to send him to custody for trial.

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Supreme Court Bail vs. Special Court Custody Order

Prominent businessman and Shankar Group Chairman Shankarlal Agarwal has been sent back to custody following a fresh order from the Special Court. On Tuesday, a joint bench of Special Court Chairperson Vasudev Acharya and Judges Hemant Rawal and Bidur Koirala directed that Agarwal be kept in judicial custody pending the trial of his money laundering case. The decision came during a hearing on a petition filed after Agarwal presented himself before the court.

Previously, Agarwal had received relief from the Supreme Court in a banking offense case where he was held in pre-trial detention. On August 31, a joint bench of Supreme Court Justices Balkrishna Dhakal and Nripadhwaj Niraula overturned the Patan High Court’s detention order, instructing that he be released on bail of NPR 100,000 and placed on trial dates.

Legal Background and Timeline

Patan High Court Order: Earlier, on July 21, 2026 (Saun 7, 2083 BS), the Patan High Court had issued a detention order under Section 67 of the National Criminal Procedure (Code) Act, 2017, sending Agarwal to custody for trial.

Supreme Court Intervention: Acting on a petition seeking to overturn what was termed an “irregular order,” the Supreme Court invoked Sections 68 and 72 of the National Criminal Procedure (Code) Act, 2017, permitting his release on bail of NPR 100,000.

Although the Supreme Court’s bail provided temporary relief, the Special Court’s subsequent ruling in the separate money laundering proceedings has placed Agarwal back in custody as the legal proceedings continue.

For more: Shankarlal Agarwal Back in Custody Special Court Order