Continued Delays: Sandeep Lamichhane’s Court Hearing Postponed Again

The Patan High Court has once again deferred the hearing of cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane’s case, where he challenges an 8-year prison sentence for an alleged rape, marking another delay in the proceedings. The hearing, initially scheduled for Sunday, did not proceed as planned.

The case was to be heard by Judges Dhir Bahadur Chand and Chandramani Gyawali. However, it was placed on the court’s ‘not to be heard’ list, postponing the session to a later date. The reasons for the delay were not immediately clear.

Lamichhane, a prominent figure in Nepali cricket, had appealed to the Patan High Court following a conviction by the Kathmandu District Court. The lower court had sentenced him to eight years in prison, alongside imposing a fine of 3 lakh rupees and a compensation payment of 2 lakh rupees to the victim.

The District Court’s verdict was based on findings that Lamichhane had coerced the victim, exploiting her financial vulnerabilities. However, in his appeal to the High Court, Lamichhane disputes these findings, claiming the allegations of financial coercion are unsubstantiated and that the assertion of any demand or offer of financial transactions lacks a solid foundation.