Chitwan District Court has remanded Rabi Lamichhane along with Yubaraj Kandel and Ashmita Karki for 5 days. Lamichhane is a popular TV journalist, Kandel is a fellow journalist, and Ashmita Karki practices nursing. The trio were picked up by police after a video by Shalikram Pudaisini, a journalist and former colleague of Lamichhane surfaced in social media. In the video, Pudaisini accuses the three of ‘leading him towards depression’, allegedly abetting his suicide.
The single bench of judge Binod Kumar Gautam issued an order to remand them in custody for five days while hearing the case. Three lawyers including senior advocate Sunil Pokhrel and Chudamani Sapkota have been pleading for Lamichhane.
All of them would be kept in the detention of District Police Office. As per the law, they can be detained for as many as 25 days for the investigation.
Meanwhile, many are calling for an ‘immediate release’ of Lamichhane – thousands of his supporters swarmed the District Court yesterday. Protest programs were planned in Kathmandu’s Maitighar too, however, cancelled due to the rain.
Rabi Lamichhane is a Nepali TV presenter who is loved by the Nepali public (most of them at least). He gained fame in April, 2013 when he set the world record for hosting the longest-ever television talk show. Since then, he has been hosting a regular talk show ‘Sidha Kura Janta Sanga’ (Straight Talks with the public) for News24.