Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was released on Monday after the Supreme Court scrapped the anticorruption panel that jailed him. Nepali Congress (Democratic) President Deuba was freed along with his party colleague Prakash Man Singh at midnight yesterday. Deuba was arrested on July 26 last year- almost six months after King Gyanendra sacked Deuba's government and began his direct rule. The court ruled that the Royal Commission for Corruption Control was unconstitutional. This controversial commission was authorized to charge, try and punish anyone. Constitutional experts, opposition parties and critics argued that the commission not only bypassed the authority of judiciary system but also the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority. After his release, Deuba applauded the judiciary. "The judiciary has shown that there can be rule of the law," he said. He also said he would continue participating in the anti-king movement that has brought seven main parties of the dissolved Parliament together against the royal takeover. Deuba and his government's minister Prakash Man Singh were charged and jailed after the royal commission claimed to have found both involved in corruption in the $500 million Melamchi drinking water project. The royal commission's decision has sparked speculations about different possible political developments and change in political equations in the country. However, hours before the Supreme Court's decision came on Monday, government's spokesman State Minister for Information and Communication Shreesh Shumshere Rana, citing the 'success' of the controversial municipal election of last week, said elections were the only way forward for Nepal's politics. Rana's statement came as a hint of the government's plan to hold other such elections including the parliamentary polls.