The Office of Attorney General has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, demanding to void the Patan High Court’s order to release cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane on bail.
Hari Shankar Gyawali, spokesperson and Deputy Attorney General, informed a petition to arrest Sandeep again has been filed as the Patan High Court’s order to release Sandeep Lamichhane on bail is contrary to the legal system.
On January 13, the Patan High Court released Lamichhane on a bail of Rs 2 million. Lamichhane has been accused of raping a 17-year-old girl on August 21 and if proven guilty, he will be imprisoned for 10 to 12 years as per the existing legal provisions.
The Attorney General’s Office has provided two main precedents, insisting that Sandeep be re-arrested. If arrest warrants were prohibited, criminal cases could not be investigated, suspects could walk freely in society making victims, as well as society, feel insecure and the evidence could be destroyed or tampered with.
Similarly, it said that the condition of the defendant committing the crime, circumstances, his role in the incident, the benefit he received from the crime, and the damage caused to victims or whistleblowers, as well as the financial status of the defendant should be taken into consideration in accordance with legal grounds.
“In view of the fact that the victim was injured, was socially disadvantaged, and had filed a complaint against the defendant, the order passed by the Patan High Court should be annulled,” stated the petition.
Meanwhile, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has lifted the suspension of Lamichhane but it is not clear whether he will be called to the national team camp for ICC World League.
