Supreme Court verdict on gang rape, culprits declared guilty

Kathmandu : The Supreme Court has declared accused of gang rape of Puja Bohara as the guilty by overturning the verdict of Appellate Court, Mahendranagar.

A division bench of judges—Sapana Pradhan Malla and Hari Prasad Phunyal, on Monday determined the accused as guilty. However, the punishment to the guilty would be determined only after next hearing as per new work-procedure.

 The SC endorsed the verdict of District Court, Baitadi. A single bench of district judge of District Court, Baitadi, Himalayaraj Pathak, on December 24, 2012, had slapped 13 years of imprisonment and Rs 50,000 fine each to Sagar Bhatta and Amar Awasthi.

Overturning the verdict of the District Court, Baitadi, a division bench of judges of Appellate Court, Mahendranagar, Nar Bahadur Shahi and Ramesh Prasad Rajbhandari, had declared Bhatta and Awasthi as innocent. Victim Bohara had filed an appeal at the SC against the Appellate Court decision.

Bhatta, 23, proprietor of Jagannath Book Shop and proprietor of Chandani Photo Studio of Gajur-2 had raped Bohara in 2068 BS.

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