Supreme Court to Decide on Agni Sapkota Case Verdict on August 7

The Supreme Court (SC) has set August 7 as the date for delivering its verdict on the case against CPN (Maoist Center) Vice Chairman Agni Sapkota. The case revolves around allegations of murder in the 2005 disappearance and killing of Arjun Lama from Kavre.

A writ petition filed by Purnimaya Lama, Arjun Lama’s wife, prompted the SC to review the charges against Sapkota and other leaders involved. The petitioners have urged the court to proceed with investigations and potentially issue arrest orders against Sapkota.

Earlier, the Constitutional Bench, chaired by Chief Justice Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha and comprising justices Prakashman Singh Raut, Sapana Pradhan Malla, Prakash Kumar Dhungana, and Kumar Regmi, concluded hearings on June 5. Initially scheduled for a decision on June 26, the verdict was postponed due to the absence of one of the justices.

The defendants argue that the incident falls under transitional justice mechanisms, citing its occurrence during the conflict period. This case is one of three similar writ petitions currently before the SC, all seeking legal action related to the alleged kidnapping and murder of Arjun Lama on April 29, 2005.