KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 26

The High Court, Pokhara has given a clean chit to actor Purna Bikram (Pal) Shah on charge of pedophilia.

A division bench of judges Dilliraj Acharya and Shreedhara Kumari Pudasaini acquitted actor Shah on the case.

Earlier, the Nawalpur District Court had sentenced two and a half years of jail term against Shah on charge of pedophilia. After the district's verdict, Shah had filed the petition in the High Court, challenging the district court's verdict. However, the District Court Tahanun had acquitted Shah on a rape case against a minor.

The bench of the High Court concluded that the charge sheet against Shah was inadequate, Information Officer of High Court, Pokhara, Bishnu Prasad Acharya said.

Shah's lawyer senior advocate Kamala Mohan Wagle said that actor Shah will be released from the jail following the High Court's verdict. 'Shah has won the case. He will be released tomorrow,' according to Wagle.