Court orders additional three-day remand for Mahara

KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu District Court on Tuesday has ordered additional three days of remand for controversial former speaker of the House of Representatives, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, over attempt-to-rape allegations.

A single bench of justice Deepak Kumar Dahal took the decision to this effect today after hearing debates from both defendant and plaintiff lawyers, informed court registrar, Ananda Prasad Shrestha.

Krishna Bahadur Mahara (C) who resigned from his post as a speaker of the House of Representatives in Nepal's parliament after an accusation made by a female parliament employee that he raped her, heads towards the court in Kathmandu, Nepal October 15, 2019. Photo: Reuters
Krishna Bahadur Mahara (C) who resigned from his post as a speaker of the House of Representatives in Nepal's parliament after an accusation made by a female parliament employee that he raped her, heads towards the court in Kathmandu, Nepal October 15, 2019. Photo: Reuters
Krishna Bahadur Mahara (C) who resigned from his post as a speaker of the House of Representatives in Nepal's parliament after an accusation made by a female parliament employee that he raped her, heads towards the court in Kathmandu, Nepal October 15, 2019. Photo: Reuters
Krishna Bahadur Mahara (C) who resigned from his post as a speaker of the House of Representatives in Nepal's parliament after an accusation made by a female parliament employee that he raped her, heads towards the court in Kathmandu, Nepal October 15, 2019. Photo: Reuters

According to the court's decision, Mahara has been remanded into judicial custody for 13 days from the day of his arrest on October 6.  As he has already remained 10 days in custody, he will be detained for three extra days till October 18 for investigations.

Senior advocate Raman Shrestha and other advocates Murari Prasad Sapkota, Bhojraj Acharya, Laxmi Devkota and Chandra Prasad Guragain had pleaded on behalf of Mahara.

Krishna Bahadur Mahara (C) who resigned from his post as a speaker of the House of Representatives in Nepal's parliament after an accusation made by a female parliament employee that he raped her, heads towards the court in Kathmandu, Nepal October 15, 2019. Photo: Reuters
Krishna Bahadur Mahara (C) who resigned from his post as a speaker of the House of Representatives in Nepal's parliament after an accusation made by a female parliament employee that he raped her, heads towards the court in Kathmandu, Nepal October 15, 2019. Photo: Reuters
Krishna Bahadur Mahara (C) who resigned from his post as a speaker of the House of Representatives in Nepal's parliament after an accusation made by a female parliament employee that he raped her, heads towards the court in Kathmandu, Nepal October 15, 2019. Photo: Reuters
Krishna Bahadur Mahara (C) who resigned from his post as a speaker of the House of Representatives in Nepal's parliament after an accusation made by a female parliament employee that he raped her, heads towards the court in Kathmandu, Nepal October 15, 2019. Photo: Reuters

Mahara was unable to furnish his statement in the court due to health problems. He had been admitted to Norvic International Hospital in Thapathali after complaining of respiratory-related ailments on October 10.

Mahara was arrested from the Speaker’s official residence in Baluwatar following the district court’s permission to take him into custody to investigate attempt-to-rape charges levelled at him.