Kathmandu, June 4 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued an order directing the authorities concerned to initiate a criminal investigation against CPN (Maoist Centre) Vice-chairperson and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota in connection with the alleged abduction and murder of Arjun Bahadur Lama in 2005.

A five-member constitutional bench led by Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut issued the order while concluding hearings on three separate writ petitions, one of which was filed by Lama's wife, Purnimaya Lama, over 14 years ago. The bench has ordered authorities to carry out a formal criminal probe based on her complaint registered with the Kavre District Police Office.

The ruling marks a breakthrough ...