CHITWAN, Aug 26: Police filed a charge-sheet against Rabi Lamichhane, Yuvaraj Kandel and Asmita Karki at the Chitwan District Court on Sunday in connection with the suicide case of journalist Shalikram Pudasaini who was found hanging at a hotel in Chitwan on August 5. The three have been accused of instigating Pudasaini to take his own life.
On Sunday, the court recorded the statement of Karki alone. Statement of Lamichhane and Kandel will be recorded on Monday, according to the district registrar Rudramani Giri.
"Today, the court is done with Karki's statement, tomorrow the statements of the other two will be recorded after the court opens," he said.
Lamichhane remanded in custody for 5 more days
Police had taken the three into custody 10 days ago as the deceased had accused them of torturing him 'which he could not bear anymore and choose to end his life', in a video recording.
Pudasaini had worked closely with Lamichhane for 'Janatasanga Sidha Kura', a popular TV show on News24 TV channel.
While Karki had sought security following 'harassment' by News24 asking her to appear for an interview regarding the case soon after the video turned viral over social media, and submitted herself to police in Chitwan, Lammichhane and Kandel were arrested from the newsroom of News24 by police.
Police had handed over reports and evidences regarding the case to government lawyer on Sunday afternoon.
In the charge-sheet, five years of jail term and Rs 5,000 fine has been sought against the accused. According to Prakash Thapa, instigating someone for suicide attracts the same punishment.
A single bench of the district judge Hemanta Rawal will conduct the hearing, according to Registrar Rudramani Giri.
Claiming that he is innocent and the state is only trying to frame him, Lamichhane fans have been demonstrating since day one of his arrest. They have protested in Chitwan, Kathmandu and Pokhara, among other places. Several political parties meanwhile released statements asking people not to try to influence the judicial process. Debate over whether Lamichhane has any connection with the suicide of Pudasaini has taken the social media by storm. Pudasaini's wife Samjhana had filed a case against the three after competing the 13-day death ritual of her husband.
