SC to hear rape case against Paul Shah

SC to hear rape case against Paul Shah
By Republica
Published: December 16, 2023 11:19 AM

KATHMANDU, Dec 16: The Supreme Court will review the decision of the Pokhara High Court, which acquitted actor Purna Bikram Shah (Paul Shah), accused of raping a minor.

Actor Shah was acquitted by a joint bench consisting of the Chief Judge Dilliraj Acharya and Judge Sridharakumari Pudasaini of the High Court. In response to this decision, the Office of the Attorney General filed a petition in the Supreme Court (SC) requesting a reconsideration.

The joint bench, comprising Justice Sushmalata Mathema and Hari Phuyal, at the SC granted permission to review the High Court's decision during a hearing on December 8.

The SC emphasized that the High Court judge in Paul Shah's case failed to properly evaluate the evidence, misinterpreted the laws, and acquitted him in a manner inconsistent with the principles established by the SC in cases of minor rape.

The government lawyer filed a petition in the High Court against the Nawalpur District Court's decision to acquit Paul Shah.

Shah was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for child sexual abuse, fined Rs 25,000 and Rs 1 million compensation to the victim was also decided by the Nawalpur court.

Paul also filed an application against the decision. The High Court, which considered both the petitions together, acquitted Paul Shah completely.

The victim filed a complaint at Tanahun on February 23, 2022 and at Nawalpur police on February 27, 2022, saying that Shah had raped her during the shooting.

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