A habeas corpus writ has been filed at the Supreme Court demanding the release of Chudamani Sharma, suspended director general of Inland Revenue Department (IRD). Sharma is currently in the custody of Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) over corruption charges.

Sharma's wife Kalpana Upreti Sharma filed the writ at the apex court on Tuesday demanding the release of her husband, said Mahendra Nath Upadhyay, spokesperson of the SC. In the petition, Kalpana has argued that Sharma’s detention is illegal and that he should not subjected to interrogation from CIAA for using the power granted by Law on TSC.

She has also claimed that bail amount sought by the anti-graft body was too excessive, according to Upadhyay. The CIAA has said the bail amount was sought from Sharma based on irregularities totalling more than Rs9 billion claimed to have been unearthed by the CIAA during its probe into some 120 files related to tax exemption by the TSC.

The anti-graft body had sought bail amount of Rs3 billion, the highest ever bail amount, for his release but his failure to post the amount, forced him to remain in CIAA custody. According to the Corruption Prevention Act-2002, the CIAA can hold a corruption-accused for up to six months in custody.

Sharma is facing interrogation from anti-graft body over 'questionable' way of tax exemption through Tax Settlement Commission (TSC) formed by the government in February 2015. He was one of the three members of the commission.

The CIAA has claimed one-third of the amount allegedly embezzled in bail from Sharma as he was a member of three member commission. The CIAA had arrested Sharma on June 2 but its chairperson chartered accountant LD Mahat and member Umesh Dhakal are at large. The CIAA has issued arrest warrants in their names after they failed to present themselves at the CIAA within the deadline.