SC to pass verdict on case against Agni Sapkota on Aug 7

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) is scheduled to pass a verdict on the case against CPN (Maoist Center) Vice Chairman Agni Sapkota on August 7.

The writ petition, filed on charges of murder in the case of Arjun Lama from Kavre, concluded its arguments on June 5.

Previously, the Constitutional Bench comprising Chief Justice Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha, Prakashman Singh Raut, Sapana Pradhan Malla, Prakash Kumar Dhungana, and Kumar Regmi concluded the hearing and set the decision date for June 26.

However, the bench could not deliver the verdict on the given date as one of the judges was absent.

In November 2012, Purnimaya Lama, the wife of Arjun Lama, filed a writ petition at the SC demanding an investigation into the murder charges against Sapkota and other leaders.

There are three such writ petitions at the SC.

The petitioners have demanded that the SC issue an order to proceed with the investigation and arrest Sapkota.

The respondents, however, argued that the incident falls under the jurisdiction of transitional justice mechanisms due to its occurrence during the conflict period.

Lama was allegedly kidnapped and murdered on April 29, 2005.