Sandeep Lamichhane to be on judicial custody for seven more days, district court rules

Sandeep Lamicchane (Image Source: Twitter)

Sandeep Lamichhane, the Nepal cricketer, is going through one of the toughest phases of his life. Albeit the current controversy has little to do with his on-field actions, the spinner will have to prove his innocence against a rape case filed against him by a 17-year-old minor. The Kathmandu District Court ruled out a decision on October 10, Monday to extend his judicial custody for seven more days. 

For the unversed, Lamichhane was arrested on Thursday, right on his arrival from the West Indies by the Department of Immigration. On October 1, the star spinner announced that he will return to Nepal to face legal charges filed against him. 

The player will be in judicial custody for further seven days starting from October 6, the date he was arrested at Tribhuvan International Airport. His advocate, Saroj Ghimire said that the player has filed evidence for proving his innocence during the hearing. The cops will have to complete the investigation within 25 days of his arrest to file a criminal case against him. 

As it stands, the cops will record Lamichhane’s statement in the district attorney’s presence. The issue started with a 17-year-old minor, with the help of her guardian, filing a rape case against him accusing him of raping her in a hotel on August 21. In the meantime, the District Court issued an arrest warrant against him on September 7 after a case was filed by Gaushala Police Circle. 

Lamichhane could be imprisoned for 10-12 years if proven guilty

The investigation is being carried on under Section 219 of the Criminal Code 2074. If he is proven guilty of the act, the spinner could be imprisoned for 10 to 12 years, which in turn, might put an end to his cricketing career as well. 

Soon after the rape case was filed, the Nepal Cricket Association suspended him and removed him from his captaincy role. Lamichhane was participating in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) when the issue started and returned midway to face the charges. 

The spinner took it to social media accounts to claim his innocence and said that justice must prevail. "I am INNOCENT & keep complete belief in the respectable laws of Nepal. I have decided to take a leave from CPL and go back to my country within a few days," Lamichhane had said on his social media accounts earlier.