BARAHATHAWA: The District Court of Sarlahi has sentenced ‘ascetic’ Ram Bahadur Bamjan to 10 years in prison and a compensation of Rs. 500,000 for committing sexual offenses against a minor girl.

According to  registrar Sadan Adhikari, Judge Jeevan Kumar Bhandari’s bench ruled that Bamjan should serve 10 years in prison and pay Rs. 500,000 in compensation to the victim.

Last Monday, Bamjan was found guilty of committing sexual offenses against the minor, and today’s verdict determined his sentence.

The girl’s family had filed a detailed complaint at the District Police Office in Malangwa on February 6, 2020, accusing 30-year-old Bamjan from Nijgadh Municipality-12 in Bara district of sexual exploitation while she was staying at the Pattharkot based ashram in Lalbandi, Sarlahi.

Bamjan was arrested by a CIB team from his residence in Budhanilkantha-6, Kathmandu, on the evening of January 9, and was remanded to custody by the court on January 11.

He is currently held at Mahottari Jail in Jaleshwar.

Bamjan, also known as ‘Little Buddha,’ faces additional accusations of murder, disappearance, and sexual violence against followers at his ashram.

Five families have lodged complaints against him, alleging the disappearance of three young women and two young men who were staying at the ashram.