A suspected Maoist under police detention for nearly 10 months was released Wednesday in the presence of an official of the Kathmandu District Court, court sources said.

A two man bench of the Supreme Court ordered the release of  Mitharam Ghimere after saying his continued detention was illegal. Ghimere was arrested from Tukuche village in Kavre 10 months ago.

The release comes after the Supreme Court decided to take up the issue of continued detention of prisoners with Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand even after court orders for  release of prisoners, thus defying  orders.

The Supreme Court Wednesday also ordered the releases of suspected Maoists  Bikram Maharjan and Rupa Dhakal from what it called the illegal detentions before a court official. They have been detained for nine and  five months respectively.