The Lalitpur Appellate Court released former Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Tarini Dutta Chataut on bail, when he submitted himself in the court today to defend the charges against him in connection with Lauda Air deal.

The two-member bench accepted the bail of 1.7 million rupees, which Chataut presented in the court immediately. The court had issued warrant against Chataut to be present in the court in connection with Lauda Air deal. Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority had filed a lawsuit against former Minister Chataut and other nine people accusing them of being involved in the shady deal between Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation and Austrian Lauda Air for leasing a Boeing aircraft.

Chataut had been absconding for more than two months. Other accused had already been released on bail. When the deal between RNAC and Lauda Air was done, Chataut was the Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation. Chataut pleaded innocence as the Ministry has nothing to do in the decision of RNAC as it is an autonomous body.