Nepal's Star Cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane Convicted Of Raping Minor

Nepal's cricketer, 23-year-old Sandeep Lamichhane has been convicted of raping a 17-year-old minor in a hotel room in Kathmandu in 2022. Lamichhane was earlier, however, released on bail due to long and repetitively delayed trials that had left him free to continue his cricketing career even in international tournaments. 

The former Nepal National Cricket team captain was the only player from the country to have participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other prominent international T20 leagues. He has finally been convicted of raping and mentally torturing a 17-year-old minor in August 2022. 

Sandeep Lamichhane Convicted Of Raping A Minor

On December 29, a court in Kathmandu, Nepal, convicted him of rape charges filed by a 17-year-minor girl who alleged the incident happened in a hotel room on August 21, 2022. The final hearing of the case will determine the jail term of the player which is scheduled for January 10. It's believed that the player could get up to even ten years of imprisonment. 

The minor alleged that Lamichhane sexually assaulted her in August 2022 and it was after she lodged a complaint against him on September 6, that the cricketer was suspended from the national cricket team and was arrested on a warrant on October 6 at the International airport after his return from a tournament.

The Kathmandu District Attorney had earlier demanded compensation from Lamichhane for the survivor's alleged physical and mental assault, freezing the cricketer's property and bank account. On November 4, 2022, the Kathmandu District Court ordered sending the cricketer to Sundhara-based central jail following the detention hearing in the case after which Lamichhane moved the high court challenging the order.

On January 12, the Patan High Court ordered the release of a cricketer after a review petition was filed by Lamichhane ordering a release on bail with a bond of 2 million with conditions. The release led the cricketer to move freely and excel in his cricketing career as he last appeared in the international tournament against Kenya in the T20I tournament in August 2023. The cricketer has played in many prominent T20 international leagues including the Caribbean Premiere League (CPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), The Big Bash League (BBL) Australia, and many more while he has also made his debut in the Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals. 

The cricketer also holds the record of second fastest bowler to hit 50 ODI wickets and third-fastest to capture 50 T20I wickets.