DHANGADHI: Kanchanpur District Court on Sunday ordered the release of sacked superintendent of police Dilliraj Bista, accused of destroying evidence and torture while investigating the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta of Bhimdatta Municipality, on bail.

According to Court Registrar Hari Krishna Awasthi, Bista has been ordered to post Rs 10.5 lakh, Rs 4 lakh on counts of destroying evidence and Rs 6 lakh for inflicting torture on suspects, in bail amount.

Bista presented himself before the district court on Tuesday to record his statements. The trial hearing had concluded on Friday.

Six of the eight police personnel accused of destroying evidence in the rape and murder case were presented before the court on February 14 and released on bail.

A case had been lodged against eight police officials including the sacked SP and Central Investigation Bureau DSP Angur GC, the latter is yet to present himself before the court.

DSP Gyan Bahadur Sethi and Inspector Ekendra Khadka were freed after furnishing a bail amount of Rs 9 lakh each. Inspector Jagadish Bhatta has bailed out for Rs 4 lakh, while sub-inspectors Hari Singh Dhami and Ram Singh Dhami have bailed out for Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, respectively. Constable Chandani Saud was freed after she furnished bail of Rs 2 lakh.

On December 18, Nirmala Panta’s mother Durga Devi had filed an FIR against the eight cops, accusing them of destroying evidence in the case of her daughter’s rape and murder.

Acting on the FIR, the Office of District Attorney moved the court on March 7 against the eight accused, charging them with tampering evidence, illegal detention and torture while probing the rape and murder of Nirmala, who was killed on July 26.

Police had presented Dilip Singh Bista as the main suspect in the case. Dilip’s elder brother Khadga Bista filed a case against four cops, including Bista, for torturing his brother in police custody.