KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 24
The hearing on the rape case involving cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has once again been postponed today.
The case faces another delay due to staffing issues at the Kathmandu District Court. It was previously postponed on October 18, also because of an insufficient number of judges available to preside over it.
Kathmandu District Court has undergone a significant reshuffling of judges, with some being transferred to the court and others being reassigned elsewhere.
On February 27, the Supreme Court had ordered that the case against Sandeep be withdrawn from the fast track. After that, the case was postponed and appeared for hearing several times.
The trial was adjourned after Lamichhane left for Zimbabwe to play in the World Cup qualifiers.Hearing on the case was brought on track once again, as soon as he returned.
On September 6, the girl, who is underage as per law, along with a guardian - her elder brother - had filed a complaint against Lamichhane at Gaushala Police Circle.She accused him of raping her in a hotel in Sinamangal, Kathmandu, on the night of August 21.
The girl had alleged that she was raped twice. As per the FIR, Lamichhane even beat her up when she refused to have intercourse. CCTV footage showed both leaving the hotel early next morning.
Lamichhane left for Kenya to participate in the Cricket T-20 series in Nairobi the same day. From there he travelled to the West Indies to participate in the Caribbean Premier League.
