Kathmandu, Feb. 12 -- The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by former Armed Police Force Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ranjan Koirala, who is serving a 20-year sentence for murdering his wife, seeking his release through a habeas corpus petition.

A bench of Justices Mahesh Sharma Paudel and Bal Krishna Dhakal issued the final order on Wednesday, ordering that Koirala must serve the full term in prison.

Koirala had filed the petition on December 12 last year, requesting his release, citing health reasons. The Ministry of Home Affairs, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and the Department of Prison Management among others were named as defendants in the petition.

Koirala was initially sentenced to life imprisonme...