KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) is set to announce its verdict on the murder case involving Agni Sapkota, the Vice Chairman of the ruling CPN-Maoist Center, on June 26.

Following a hearing by the Constitutional Bench led by Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha on Wednesday, June 26 has been designated as the date for the verdict.

The case filed against former Speaker Sapkota, implicated in the murder of Arjun Lama from Kavre, was previously scheduled for trial.

Arjun’s wife, Purnimaya Lama, filed a case against Maoist activists including Sapkota, Suryaman Dong, Bhola Aryal, Karnakar Gautam, and Norbu Moktan, alleging their involvement in her husband’s murder.

This case had been pending for almost 10 years before being brought before the court again.

Previously, the Constitution Bench comprising Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, along with Justices Prakashman Singh Raut, Sapana Pradhan Malla, Prakash Kumar Dhungana, and Kumar Regmi, had  heard the case on April 24.

However, due to various reasons, the case remained unresolved despite being presented for hearing 15 times.

It is noteworthy that the SC had issued an order on March 5, 2008, to register the case.