KATHMANDU, Feb 17: Former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been released from Dillibazar prison on Monday, hours after the Kathmandu District Court acquitted him of attempt-to-rape charge.

Issuing the final verdict after concluding the hearing, a single bench of judge Ambar Raj Paudel cleared him of all charges today afternoon.

Mahara was arrested from his official residence in Baluwatar on October 6, after a female parliament secretariat staffer filed a complaint against him accusing him of sexual assault at her Tinkune-based apartment on the night of Sept 30.

He resigned from his position as Speaker following the accusation.

The district court on Nov 4 had remanded him to into judicial custody in Dillibazar prison.

On Nov 21, Mahara had moved the Patan High Court challenging the district court’s decision, demanding a bail.

But the high court had denied the bail stating he could not be bailed since the prima facie evidence went against Mahara, and had ordered the district court to decide the case within one month.

Following the order, the district court had continued the hearing which concluded on Sunday. However, the court failed to issue a final verdict “due to lack of time”.

He can now return to parliament as a full member since he has not resigned as the Member of Parliament.

KATHMANDU, Feb 16: The Kathmandu District Court is conducting a final hearing on the attempted rape allegation charge against former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara today.

If the hearing concludes today, the court will issue a verdict today itself, according to the court.

Mahara was arrested in October last year after a female parliament secretariat staffer registered a complaint against him accusing him of sexually assaulting her at her Tinkune-based apartment on Sept 30.

Following the allegation, Mahara resigned from his position as Speaker.

Earlier, Mahara had appealed to the Patan High Court demanding a bail challenging the district court’s decision. However, the high court upheld the Kathmandu District Court’s decision to remand him to custody saying he could not be bailed since the prima facie evidence went against Mahara.

The high court had also ordered the district court to decide the case within one month.

Although, the police had recovered insole from Mahara’s shoe and his broken glass form her apartment as evidence, the victim’s phone call to police and lawmaker Uma Regmi, and her statement to a journalist in an interview all point against Mahara, he has denied the allegations.

KATHMANDU, Dec 19: The Patan High Court is hearing on the appeal today filed by former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara seeking his release.

Chief judge Nahakul Subedi and judge Tek Narayan Kunwar are hearing the case.

Mahara is doing time in Dillibazar prison since the Kathmandu District Court remanded Mahara to judicial custody on Nov 4.

He was arrested on Oct 6 after a female parliamentarian secretariat staff registered an FIR against him accusing him of physical assault and attempted rape at her Tinkune-based apartment on Oct 30. He stepped down from the position following the accusation.

On Nov 21, Mahara filed an appeal at the high court challenging the District court’s verdict, claiming himself innocent and asking for a release.

The district attorney office has sought seven years of imprisonment for Mahara as per the existing law.

KATHMANDU, Nov 4: Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who stepped down following the accusation of attempted rape and physical assault on a female parliamentarian staff last month, has been sent to prison for further investigation on Monday.

A single bench of Kathmandu district court justice Sudarshan Pandey decided to remand him in custody, said Information officer of the court Gyan Bahadur Karki. He has been sent to Dillibazar prison.

District attorney office had filed a charge sheet against Mahara on Thursday seeking seven years in jail as per the existing law.

During a hearing trial which began on Sunday, a total of 32 advocates had registered to plead on behalf of Mahara while four lawyers pleaded on behalf of the petitioner.

Mahara was arrested on Oct 6 after the parliamentarian secretariat staff registered a FIR against him two day before accusing him of rape attempt at her Tinkune-based rented apartment on Sept 30.

KATHMANDU, Nov 3: The Kathmandu District Court has begun preliminary hearing on the rape charges against former Speaker of the House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who stepped down after a female colleague accused him of rape attempt and physical assault last month.

Following the conclusion of hearing, the court will decide whether to send him to judicial custody until the final verdict or release him on bail.

Mahara, while recording statement before the court on Friday, has denied visiting the alleged victim and entering the house.

However, alleged victim has claimed that Mahara was in her apartment for two hours when the rape attempt and assault took place.

According to police investigation, Mahara had reportedly left her apartment following the incident.

The police have recovered a broken glass, shoe insole, some leftover whiskey as evidence and traced Mahara’s phone location and CCTV footage.

The district court has sought five years jail term for the former Speaker on the charge of rape attempt and additional two-and-half-years as he holds a public office.

A closed bench is hearing the case.

KATHMANDU, Oct 14: Employee at the Parliament Secretariat Roshani Shahi had accused former Speaker of the House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara of rape and physical abuse on 30th September made public via her interview to the media regarding and her call to the local police.

Since the allegation she has changed her statements repeatedly, the first one being the very next day stating that Mahara was “innocent and a father figure to her”. On October 4th Roshani had formally registered an FIR with the Nepal Police regarding the incident, and the same evening the former Speaker of the House was arrested from his official residence in Baluwatar. When Mahara’s health deteriorated and he was shifted to the hospital, Roshani changed her statement yet again.

On October 11th speaking to journalists in an interaction program Roshani has said that she was pressurized by the Nepal Police to file an FIR against Mahara and has a written statement. She wrote ” The Nepal Police Baneshwor circle took me for interrogation for about 9 hours, and they made me a captive, mentally pressurizing me to file an FIR against Krishna Bahadur Mahara for an attempt to rape” Roshani has stated that the Police are taking advantage of her loneliness and that Mahara was guilty.

The latter was forced to resign from his position when the matter came to light. He is currently in the custody of the Nepal Police. This case is blurring every passing day making it extremely difficult for any further investigation due to constantly changing statements, and the hostile behavior of the victim.

If random statements are made, not considering duress, which may also be the case, it is a blemish for feminism, and Roshani deserves certain jail for character assassination of both Mahara and now the Nepal Police, who she initially called for help dialing the 100 number.

A thorough investigation is required and while the court decides the investigation is taking an unmanageable turn. What started has rape, has been changed to attempt to rape, and now the victim says that Mahara is not guilty.

KATHMANDU, OCT 4: Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal has received a major setback. Former speaker of the House of Representatives of the Nepalese parliament Krishna Bahadur Mahara who tendered his resignation after a rape allegation by a female employee was Dahal’s closest aide.

Mahara had always provided support to Dahal during his long political career starting from the insurgency days. Mahara who already had experience with the Parliament was given a lot of responsibilities during the insurgency, and his expertise was well utilized. Even during the peace process, it was Mahara who had played a crucial role under the direction of Dahal.

Mahara was Dahal’s most trustworthy political partner. Since Mahara’s political career now is close to being winded up, Dahal faces an enormous challenge to replace him with someone credible. It will be a huge responsibility to be able to put someone else in Mahara’s place.

It has not been easy for former Prime Minister Dahal, he lost his son and daughter and personally has gone through tumultuous times of grief, along with various tests of time. The recent incident regarding his closest aide has come as a shock for him which will be disturbing his peace.

He was instrumental behind Mahara getting the coveted position as the Speaker of the House, but now since the allegation of rape and resignation, the NCP will have to make firm decisions, and this time Dahal may not be the one making the call. This has been a definite setback in his political career.

KATHMANDU, Oct 3: Parliament staffer Roshani Shahi, who first accused Nepal Communist Party leader and Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara of sexually assaulting and raping her only to take her statement back later, has separated with her husband Chitra Jung Shahi.

Chitra, who was outside the valley when the rape allegation came–that apparently cost Mahara his position and political career, posted a signed agreement on his Facebook page on Thursday morning.

“We spent 28 years together amid several ups and downs. Differences and dissatisfactions seem part of life as time passes. We have happily decided to separate,” the agreement states.

Following the allegation, Mahara tendered his resignation to Deputy Speaker Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe on “moral ground” and to “felicitate a free and fair investigation into the incident” amid pressure from his party.