Nepal Supreme Court Halts Arrest of Congress MP Abhishek Pratap Shah in Temporary Relief Move

The Supreme Court of Nepal has temporarily blocked the arrest of Nepali Congress lawmaker Abhishek Pratap Shah, giving the MP immediate legal relief while the case moves forward. The order was issued by a single bench of Justice Abdul Aziz Musalman, which directed the government not to proceed with the arrest until further notice.

What the court decided

According to the reports, the bench issued a short-term interim order on Wednesday and also called both sides for a hearing on the interim relief request. The directive means Shah cannot be arrested for now, even though an arrest warrant had already been issued by the Kapilvastu district court.

Shah had moved the Supreme Court on Tuesday, seeking to cancel the arrest warrant. In his petition, he named the Ministry of Home Affairs, Kapilvastu District Court, and the District Police Office, Kapilvastu, as respondents.

Why the case matters

The dispute has quickly become a politically sensitive legal test because it involves a sitting federal lawmaker. Shah, who represents Kapilvastu-3, was reportedly accused after a rival political leader filed a complaint alleging that he issued a death threat.

Police had said earlier that they were moving ahead with investigation after the warrant was issued, while also noting that Shah was believed to be in India at the time.

What happens next

The Supreme Court’s order is not a final ruling. It is a temporary measure that preserves Shah’s current status until the court holds a fuller hearing and decides whether the arrest warrant should remain in force.

For now, the most important outcome is simple: the government has been ordered to hold back, and Shah remains protected from immediate arrest while the judicial process continues.

Broader context

This case adds to a growing list of recent Supreme Court interventions in major political and administrative disputes in Nepal, where the court has also issued temporary stays in other high-profile matters involving government decisions and constitutional challenges.