Nepal cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane sentenced to 8 years in prison for rape

Listen to Story A Nepal court has sentenced cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane to eight years in prison for a rape case in which he was convicted in December 2023, according to multiple reports in local media. The Kathmandu District Court found him guilty of raping a 17 year old girl at a hotel in Kathmandu in August 2022.

This conviction comes after a series of legal proceedings that saw Lamichhane initially released on bail in January 2023, with the court demanding a fast tracking of the case. Despite the allegations, , participating in tournaments for his country while on bail. His last appearance for Nepal was against Oman in the T20 Asia Finals in November.

However, the court's decision now puts a halt to his cricket career, as he faces a significant jail sentence. Lamichhane's legal troubles began when he was arrested in October 2022 following an accusation by a minor. Although he was released by a court in January 2023, the final hearings led by Judge Shishir Raj Dhakal concluded with a guilty verdict.

The Kathmandu District Government Attorney's Office had sought a 12 year prison term for Lamichhane under the National Penal (Code) Act, 2017, but the court settled on an eight year sentence. The news of Lamichhane's sentencing has undoubtedly sent shockwaves through the cricket community, both in Nepal and internationally.

Before his fall from grace, Lamichhane had made significant contributions to Nepali cricket, being the highest wicket taker for the country in ODIs and T20Is. He also gained international recognition by playing in prestigious leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Delhi Capitals and the Big Bash League..