BAGLUNG, Dec 20: Surya Bahadur Gharti, chairman of Nisikhola Rural Municipality of Baglung, has been found guilty in a drug-related case. Gharti, who was  arrested with 80 kilos of cannabis-like powder on April 24, 2020, when he was the ward chairman of Nisikhola-6, has been found guilty.

Surya Prasad Bhandari, registrar of the District Court, Baglung, said that Surya Bahadur Gharti was found guilty by the bench of District Court Judge Dr Diwakar Bhatta on Sunday. He said that the punishment has not yet been determined. The hearing to decide the punishment has been scheduled for January 3, 2023.

Bhandari said that Gharti will have time to appeal after the sentence is determined. "He has been found guilty by the district court, now the punishment will be announced," he added, "He has the right to appeal to the high court. He will get that time."

After Gharti has been found guilty, his position as chairman of the village council is also at risk. In the last local elections in 2079 BS, he was elected from the Nepali Congress as a candidate of a five-party alliance. Yagya Prasad Rizal, head of District Election Office, Baglung, said that although he would be automatically dismissed if found guilty, it cannot be said that this will happen now.

 
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