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'Emotional' Lamichhane Visits Pasupatinath Temple After Being Proven Innocent In The Rape Case

Lamichhane is Nepal's highest wicket-taker. (CAN)Lamichhane is Nepal's highest wicket-taker. (CAN)

After being acquitted of charges in a sexual assault case, Sandeep Lamichhane visited Lord Pashupati Temple on Wednesday, May 15, accompanied by his father, Chander Narayan Lamichhane.

Lamichhane was exonerated in the rape case by the Patan High Court on Wednesday. A two-judge bench overturned the verdict of the Kathmandu District Court, which had previously sentenced the 23-year-old leg-spinner to eight years in prison due to a lack of evidence in the case.

The wily leg-spinner had been embroiled in the legal battle since 2022 when a case was filed against him, leading to his removal as captain of the Nepal cricket team. Additionally, Lamichhane faced a ban imposed by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), although this decision was later reversed. As a result, he missed out on participating in the ODI World Cup 2023 qualifiers and the Asia Cup 2023.

Lamichhane visits Pasupatinath temple

Following a detention hearing on November 4 last year, the Kathmandu District Court had ordered Lamichhane's incarceration in the Sundhara-based Central Jail. However, on January 12, a division bench of high court judges Dhruva Raj Nanda and Ramesh Dahal granted him bail while the investigation continued. 

The ex-Nepal skipper was released from custody on January 13 after posting a bail of two million rupees. Nevertheless, the court imposed travel restrictions, requiring him to inform the police before leaving Kathmandu.

Lamichhane appealed to the Supreme Court, contesting the high court’s decision against these restrictions. 

On February 27, a division bench of justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Kumar Chudal ruled in favour of the cricketer’s petition, allowing him to travel abroad for cricket commitments. 

With his innocence upheld by the judiciary, Lamichhane can now pursue his cricketing career without legal impediments.