Gaushala 26, who filed a complaint against cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane on rape charges, has filed a petition not to appeal against the High Court's decision.
Sources at the High Public Prosecutor's Office have informed that she filed a petition in the High Public Prosecutor's Office Patan a few days ago and requested not to appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision of the High Court.
“Gaushala 26 filed a plea 3-4 days ago. In the petition, she has asked not to appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision of the High Court," a source at the High Public Prosecutor's Office told Nepalkhabar.
A joint bench of Patan High Court Judges Sudarshan Dev Bhatta and Anju Uprety Dhakal on May 15 issued a verdict acquitting Sandeep of all rape charges.
The full text of the decision was made public last week, paving the way for the complainant to appeal to the Supreme Court.
However, the victim girl has made a plea not to make an appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision of High Court.
According to an official at the High Public Prosecutor’s Office, in the petition, she writes, "Since the case was filed, various individuals and organizations have capitalized on the case’s impact on my psychological and social well-being by spreading false information about the defendant and exerting pressure on me. Respecting the grounds taken by the honorable court in its decision, as my priority is to live my life without fear and peace, I humbly request that the case be dismissed.”
Kathmandu District Court on January 10, 2024 and slapped cricketer Lamichhane with an 8-year jail-term along with a fine of Rs half a million concluding that the girl was a minor.
Sandeep Lamichhane moved High Court Patan against it. On behalf of the girl, a petition was also filed in the High Court claiming that she is still a minor. The High Court overturned the District Court's decision and acquitted Sandeep.
Gaushala 26 had filed a rape complaint against Sandeep at Police Circle, Gaushala on September 6, 2022.
Sandeep was apprehended upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on October 5, 2022 while returning home after participating in Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Kathmandu District Court on November 4, 2022 sent Sandeep to judicial custody to investigate the case.
Sandeep moved the High Court Patan against the decision of Kathmandu District Court.
On January 2, 2023, High Court Patan released Sandeep on a bail of Rs 2 million on the condition that he would not go abroad.
Sandeep moved Supreme Court against the High Court’s decision. Hearing the writ, Supreme Court on February 27, 2023 granted Sandeep permission to travel abroad.
(Some misleading details were included in the news prepared based on the statements of the High Public Prosecutor's Office source. Hence, it has been corrected with an apology - Editor.)
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