After 16 months of deliberation, the Kathmandu District Court has convicted Nepal’s cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane in a rape case. The verdict was delivered by a bench of Shishir Dhakal after hearing the concluding statements from both sides. Chandra Prasad Panthi, Information Officer at the Kathmandu District Court, confirmed, “He (Sandeep Lamichhane) has been indicted in the rape case. Subsequent hearings will decide the jail term.”
According to Nepalese law, Lamichhane could face a jail term ranging from 10 to 12 years if the victim was a minor at the time of the incident. The Apex Court had earlier ordered the case to be concluded through a fast-track process on February 23, but the hearings were repeatedly put on hold due to Lamichhane’s participation in the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe.
Despite the rape accusations, Lamichhane had been released on bail and permitted to travel abroad. The Patan High Court, on January 12, overturned the Kathmandu District Court’s decision to send Lamichhane to judicial custody, citing insufficient grounds to keep him detained.
Lamichhane, who denied the rape allegation, had sought permission from the Supreme Court to travel with the national cricket team for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 matches in the UAE. The joint bench of Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Kumar Chudal granted his request on February 27.
The District Government Attorney’s Office in Kathmandu had filed a case against Lamichhane, accusing him of raping a minor. The police investigation was conducted under Section 219 of the National Penal Code Act, 2017, following a complaint from a 17-year-old girl.
The Kathmandu DGAO is seeking a prison sentence of up to 12 years for Lamichhane under sub-section 3 (d) of Section 219, which applies if the victim is 16 or above but below 18 years old. Additionally, compensation for the victim is being sought. Lamichhane has consistently denied the rape allegations in statements to the DGAO and the police.
An arrest warrant was issued against Lamichhane on September 8, leading to his suspension from the national cricket team by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on the same day.
