In a significant development, the Patan High Court on Wednesday acquitted suspended national cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane of rape charges. A division bench of judges Surya Darshan Dev Bhatta and Anju Uprety Dhakal overturned the previous verdict of the Kathmandu District Court, which had sentenced Lamichhane to eight years in jail.
The Patan High Court spokesperson, Tirtharaj Bhattarai, stated that the bench overturned the lower court’s decision due to a lack of evidence. This decision comes after both Lamichhane and the district attorney’s office had appealed the earlier verdict.
In January, a single bench of Judge Shishir Raj Dhakal convicted the former captain of the national cricket team and imposed a jail term along with a fine of half a million rupees for the alleged rape of a girl in 2022.
Following the acquittal, Lamichhane was released from custody after previously being granted bail. He had also successfully challenged travel restrictions imposed by the court, allowing him to travel abroad to play cricket.
This case has garnered significant attention in Nepal, with Lamichhane being a prominent figure in the country’s cricketing scene. The acquittal marks a turning point in the legal proceedings surrounding the case.
