KATHMANDU, March 16: The Supreme Court (SC) hearing on petitions challenging the Attorney General’s decision to withdraw certain charges against Rabi Lamichhane has been deferred for the third consecutive day under “hearing in progress” status.
The case is being heard by a joint bench of Justices Sharanga Subedi and Sunil Kumar Pokharel, with the next hearing scheduled for Thursday.
Hearing on case against cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane today
Attorney General Bhandari had earlier, on January 14, approved the withdrawal of money laundering and organized crime charges against Lamichhane, retaining only the cooperative fraud case.
The decision was based on Lamichhane’s claim of political vendetta and provisions under the National Criminal Procedure Code, 2017.
Following the decision, government attorneys in Kaski, Kathmandu, Parsa, Chitwan, and Rupandehi had filed applications at respective district courts to amend the charges. However, after petitions were filed at the Supreme Court challenging the move, the Kaski and Rupandehi district courts have ordered a halt on any decision regarding the revisions for now.
Three separate writ petitions have been registered at the Supreme Court, arguing that the Attorney General’s decision is unlawful.