Nepal cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane acquitted of rape charges

Sandeep Lamichhane was earlier handed eight-year jail term.

The Patan High Court on May 15 acquitted former Nepal captain Sandeep Lamichhane in the rape case after the Kathmandu District Court sentenced him to eight years of jail imprisonment earlier this year in January. Lamichhane was sentenced with eight years of jail imprisonment for raping a woman in August 2022.

On November 20, 2023, the Kathmandu District Court detained the 23-year-old Lamichhane and sent him to the Sundhara-based Central jail.

On January 10, 2024, a single bench of Judge Shishir Raj Dhakal found him guilty in the rape case and pronounced a jail term. Along with an eight-year jail term, Lamichhane was fined half a million rupees of which 3,00,000 was the fine, and the remaining amount was paid to the victim as compensation, the lower district court ordered.

Soon after this, both Nepali cricketer and the district attorney’s office moved to the Patan High Court to challenge the decision made by the Kathmandu District Court against Lamichhane.

On January 12, 2024, a division bench of High Court judges Dhruva Raj Nanda and Ramesh Dahal released Lamichhane on bail while the trial against him continued. Following the verdict, the former Nepal skipper was released from custody on January 13 after being granted bail on two million rupees. 

However, the High Court put travel restrictions on Sandeep and also said that if he had to travel abroad then he had to inform the police beforehand. Sandeep was dissatisfied with the travel restriction and moved to the Supreme Court to challenge the High Court decision.

On February 27, 2024, a division bench of judges Sapana Pradhan Malla and Kumar Chudal overturned travel restrictions decreed by the High Court and allowed the Nepal cricketer to travel abroad to play cricket. 

Sandeep Lamichhane proven innocent in rape case against him

On May 15, Wednesday, Lamichhane’s lawyers said the Patan Hight Court has concluded their hearing and has given verdict in favor of the Nepal cricketer.

A division bench of judges Surya Darshan Dev Bhatta and Anju Uprety Dhakal overturned the verdict of the Kathmandu District Court as there was lack of evidence.

“He had to be cleared and the high court has set him free. He was not guilty,” Sabita Bhadari Baral, a lawyer for the Sandeep told Reuters after the court verdict.

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