Patan High Court orders to put Prithivi Malla for four years in prison along with fine of Rs 40,000

KATHMANDU, May 22: The Patan High Court sentenced Prithvi Malla, who was convicted in the car accident case in Budhanilkantha three and a half years ago, to four years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 40,000.

On Sunday, a joint bench of Judges Rajendra Kharel and Jagdish Ghimire sentenced Malla to four years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 40,000, according to High Court spokesperson Mandira Shahi.

Three years ago, Leela Devkota, who was out on a morning walk in Budhanilkantha, died after being hit by a vehicle driven by drunken Malla. In this case, the public prosecutor demanded 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 100,000.

Earlier, the District Court of Kathmandu found Malla guilty but sentenced him to six months imprisonment and a fine of only Rs 1,000. The Public Prosecutor's Office appealed to the High Court saying that the sentence was much less considering the gravity of the crime.

In the incident that took place on December 13, 2019, the District and High Courts of Patan had ordered the detention of the accused. However, a bench of Judge Sapana Pradhan Malla of the Supreme Court ordered Malla to be released on a general date saying that he had mental problems.