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KATHMANDU, Feb 27: Actor Purna Bikram Shah (Paul) has been released today. Shah, who was in jail on charge of raping a minor, was released from jail today after he was given a clean chit on Sunday by the Pokhara High Court.
After learning that Shah would be released from the custody of the District Police Office, Tanahun following the court’s order, his supporters had reached Damauli this morning. They also chanted slogans in favor of Paul Shah. As there is a huge crowd of supporters, the security arrangements have been tightened.
A 17-year-old minor had filed a complaint with the District Police Office, Tanahun on February 23, 2022, saying that Shah had raped her during the shooting. Shah surrendered on February 27, 2022. The girl also lodged a complaint with the Nawalpur police.
Paul Shah to be released today exactly a year after his arrest...
Initially, she reported that it was rape, but later when she was questioned, the minor changed her statement and said that it was not rape. In the same case, District Police Office Tanahun filed a case in District Court Tanahun and Nawalpur Police filed a case in Nawalpur District Court. Among them, the Tanahun district court acquitted Shah, while the Nawalpur court ordered imprisonment, fines against Shah and compensation to the victim.
However, the joint bench of Judges Dilliraj Acharya and Sridhara Kumari Pudasaini gave the acquittal on Sunday stating that the prosecution's claim was not sufficient.
Before that, the district court Nawalpur had acquitted Shah in the minor rape case, but sentenced him to two years and six months imprisonment, fined Rs 25,000 and paid one million to the victim for child abuse. The bench of District Judge Yagya Prasad Acharya gave the verdict on September 5, 2022. Since then Shah has been in prison.
Against the same decision of the District Court, the District Public Prosecutor's Office and the Shah side filed an appeal in the Pokhara High Court. On the same appeal, the court acquitted Shah saying that the prosecution claim was not sufficient.
In the court hearing held on Sunday, Deputy Attorney Ram Prasad Adhikari of the High Public Prosecutor's Office and Senior Advocate Kamala Mohan Wagle, Krishna Bahadur Thapa, Advocate Madhav Ghimire, Ganesh Prasad Adhikari and Janakraj Dhungana argued on behalf of Shah. With the verdict, Shah will be released from prison. Tanahun District Jail released him today.
