KATHMANDU, Oct 15: Kathmandu District Court has allowed the police administration to remand Former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara into custody for the next three days.
A bench of judge Dipak Kumar Dahal ordered the police to remand Mahara into custody and launch an investigation into a rape allegation against him.
Mahara has been under the police custody for ten days after a female employee at the Federal Parliament accused him of raping her.
Earlier today, police had produced him before after conducting the preliminary hearing at District Attorney Office Kathmandu.
Court grants permission to remand Mahara in custody for four da...
Nepal Police will record the statement of the Mahara, on Tuesday from Norvic Hospital, where he has been admitted for treatment for the past one week.
He had stepped down from the post on October 1 after being accused of raping a female staffer of parliament secretariat and is currently being treated at the hospital under police custody.
According to police, the hospital has declined to discharge him citing his high blood pressure.
Mahara, who was arrested on October 6 after the staffer formally lodged a police complaint of attempted rape, was admitted to Thapathali-based Norvic Hospital on Thursday after he complained of respiratory problems.
Police have already recorded Mahara’s preliminary statement in the presence of the district attorney after his arrest. Mahara is yet to be presented before the court for remanding him in custody due to Dashain holidays. The court was closed until Sunday due to the Dashain festival. All courts across the country will remain closed on Monday as well to mourn the death of former Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay.
Police will seek to extend his custody once the court opens on Tuesday, whether the hospital allows them to present Mahara before the court in person or not. It is customary to present the accused before the court to remand them under custody. In case the accused is not presented before the court due to health reasons, police will have to present the hospital’s report to seek an extension of custody.
The victim had registered a written complaint with the police alleging Mahara of rape attempt under the influence of alcohol. Mahara then resigned from the post on October 1 after the ruling NCP asked him to step down to pave the way for fair investigations.
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