395 convicts got Presidential pardon including lawmaker Chaudhary and ex-Maoist Gautam

The government has waived various convicts and those serving jail on the occasion of Democracy Day.

On the recommendation of the Council of Ministers meeting held on Thursday, President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Friday pardoned 395 convicts and those serving jail terms on the occasion of Democracy Day.

Pushkar Gautam, who was convicted in the insurgency-era murder of Ujjan Shrestha from Okhaldhunga, and Arun Kumar Chaudhary, a Rastriya Unmukti Party lawmaker who is in jail for setting fire to a tractor a decade ago, are among those who got the Presidential pardon on Friday.

“President Bidya Devi Bhandari has pardoned 14 people including Pushkar Gautam based on the decision of the Cabinet on Thursday,” reads one of the statements from the President’s Office. Similarly, another statement says she granted amnesty to 381 prisoners by commuting their remaining jail terms as per the Cabinet’s decision.

Article 276 of the constitution allows the President to grant amnesty to prisoners as per the government’s recommendation.