Seven-Year Contempt Case Against PM Prachanda Nears Resolution, Verdict Day Set

The Supreme Court of Nepal is set to deliver its verdict in a long-standing contempt of court case involving Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ this coming Mangsir. The bench, presided over by Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Kumar Regmi, has scheduled the judgment in the seven-year-old case for Sunday.

The controversy stems from a statement made by Chairman of the Maoist Center, Prachanda, back in Baisakh 2073, during the conflict. His remarks were deemed contentious, leading senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi and others to file a petition in the Supreme Court, alleging that Prachanda’s expression amounted to contempt of court.

After extensive debates on both sides, the case, which had lingered in the Supreme Court for an extended period, concluded on Sunday. Following the debates, the bench announced that the verdict would be pronounced on Mangsir 28. If the charges against Prime Minister Prachanda are upheld, the court may offer him the opportunity to issue an apology, along with potential penalties such as imprisonment or fines. Conversely, if the allegations are not substantiated, the application will be dismissed.

In the final week of Baisakh 2073, during a program at the National Assembly house, Prachanda had publicly asserted that there was a conspiracy against him within the court. The upcoming judgment will provide clarity on this contentious issue.