Nepal spinner Sandeep Lamichhane sent to judicial custody until final verdict in rape case
Sandeep Lamichhane sent to judicial custody until final verdict on rape charge
The Kathmandu District Court on Friday ordered Nepal's star cricketer Sandeep Lamichhaneto be sent to judicial custody until the final hearing over the case of rape of a minor against him. The court decided to remand Lamichhane in custody until the final verdict in the case. The former Nepali national cricket team captain is facing a charge of raping a minor. The preliminary hearing comes after the completion of the bail hearing at the Kathmandu District Court. "Until the final verdict, the star cricketer would be kept in Central Jail," Sundara, Dineshraj Mainali, Superintendent of Police at District Police Range, Kathmandu confirmed ANI over the phone.
The police in the filed complaint has demanded 12 years sentence against Lamichhane. But, Lamichhane, from the first day, has been pleading innocent stating that it to be a ploy to defame him and affect his rising career.
On September 6, a 17-year-old girl fileda complaint against then-captain of Nepal cricket team, Sandeep Lamichhane, accusing him of raping her. Two days after the formal complaint, the Kathmandu police got an arrest warrant against him. On the same day, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) suspended Lamichhane.
The following day, Lamichhane announcedto leavehis CPL team andreturn home soon. On September 11, the Department of Immigration blacklistedthe rape-accused cricketer so that he could be arrest as soon as he enters the country. After nearly two weeks of silence,onSeptember 25, Lamichhane saidhe is in isolation to deal with stress but will return to defend the case.
The following day, Nepal Police circulated a diffusion notice among all Interpol members, seeking help to arrest him. On October 6, Lamichhane arrivedin Nepal and was arrested. On October 10, Lamichhane was remanded for seven days to let the police continue the investigation. The court extendedhis remand in subsequent hearings till the government attorney's office fileda chargesheetagainst Lamichhane demanding a jail sentence of 10 to 12 yearsfor him.