A statement issued by President's Office states that the commutation was granted to 21 persons on the recommendation of Cabinet. 

“The individuals convicted by various district courts have been pardoned on the recommendation of Cabinet,” said the statement. 

A Cabinet meeting on Friday had decided to grant clemency to 21 convits.

Rajendra Dahal, president's press advisor, confirmed that Pandey is among 21 persons granted pardon by the president.

In June 1982, Patan Court had convicted Pandey on corruption charge. Pandey, who was working as accountant at the state-owned Water Supply Cooperation at the time, was slapped with three-year jail term and a fine of Rs 5,000.

On March 17 this year, the Supreme Court had ruled that Pandey should serve the remaining time of over 1 year from the total three years sentence. The Apex Court had refused Pandey's plea not to arrest him for the already “settled corruption case”. While Pandey had moved the SC claiming that that the case was resolved through ‘royal pardon’, the Kathmandu District Court had stated that there are no records of such waiver.

On the same day, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police had arrested Pandey in connection with a 30-year-old corruption case.

However, Pandey had immediately complained of chest pain and was admitted at the Gangalal Heart Centre, Bansbari. After undergoing treatment for some days, he was shifted to Himal Nursing Home and has been at the hospital ever since, a common tactic used by many influential convicts to avert serving their time inside the jail.  

 Article 151 of the Interim Constitution has a provision of " pardons" that states "the President may, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, grant pardons and suspend, commute or remit any sentence passed by any court, special court, and military court or by any other judicial quasi-judicial or administrative authority or body.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had recently forwarded the document to the council of ministers including the name of Pandey to grant pardon.

"He has already served his time in jail years back. But then after he has been active in many organisations holding higher positions. Many government bodies have verified his deeds before ministry forwarded the waiver document," said MoHA Secretary Surya Silwal.