KATHMANDU, Aug 26: Chitwan District Court Monday released television program presenter Rabi Lamichhane on bail bond of Rs 5,00, 000.

A single bench of justice Hemant Rawal took the decision to this effect. The court has also released Lamichhane’s associate Yubraj Kandel on bail bond of Rs 3,00,000 while nurse Asmita Karki has been released on general date.

The trio has been accused of abetting Mountain Television journalist Salikram Pudasaini of abetting suicide. They were arrested from Kathmandu two weeks ago after the police recovered a video clip from Pudasaini’s mobile phone, who was found hanging in a hotel room in Narayangadh on August 5.

Lamichhane will have to seek approval from the court if he has to leave the country.

The court has also barred Lamichhane to produce program on the issue of his arrest and Pudasaini’s death.

Thousands of his supporters in Bharatpur were seen cheering and celebrating outside the district court following his release. They had been protesting in Chitwan and other parts of the country demanding his immediate release claiming “Lamichhane is innocent and was framed.”

“It’s the victory for all the Nepali people,” Lamichhane wrote on his Facebook page after his release.

“I am grateful to all the people inside and outside the country for their immense support. I am co-operating the police in their investigation on Pudasaini’s death, and will keep cooperating them. Justice has not died in the country,” he added.

CHITWAN, Aug 25: The police have concluded the investigation on television program presenter Rabi Lamichhane, his associate Yuwaraj Kandel and nurse Ashmita Karki who were remanded in custody in connection with the death of journalist Shalikram Pudasaini.

The police presented the trio at the District Attorney Office in Chitwan on Sunday, said Superintendent of Police (SP) of the Central Investigation Bureau Deepak Regmi in a press conference organized by the District Police Office, Chitwan.

During the investigation, police had presented the evidence supporting the abetted suicide of journalist Pudasaini, who was found hanging at a Chitwan-based hotel on August 5.

The trio was arrested from Kathmandu two weeks ago based on the 13-minute long video clip which Pudasaini has recorded before taking his own life. In the video, Pudasaini had held the trio responsible for his decision to commit suicide.

According to Regmi, the police has also found other evidence but “could not be made public”.

“We are looking into the case impartially and there is no external pressure piled for the case.

“We were assigned by the Police Headquarters to probe the incident and the team he led conducted the investigation accordingly.”

“Since the three opponents of this case were accused of different reasons, the court will decide on them.”

The prosecutor will register a case at the District Court, Chitwan today. The police have already submitted the file with evidence to the Court today morning.

If the public prosecutors register the case today, plaintiff and opponents will argue on whether the accused ones will repaper on the date for trial or released on bail or detain them.

With the new Criminal Code in effect, the people charged for abetted suicide will be fined Rs 50 thousand and slapped five years of imprisonment if found guilty.

Meanwhile, Lamichhane’s supporters have been demonstrating in Bharatpur on a daily basis demanding his immediate release.

KATHMANDU, Aug 25: The police officials investigating into the alleged involvement of television presenter Rabi Lamichhane and two other in abetting journalist Salikram Pudasaini to commit suicide have submitted their report to the Chitwan District Attorney’s Office on Sunday.

Lamichhane, his associate Yuvraj Kandel and nurse Asmita Karki were arrested from Kathmandu two weeks ago after the police recovered a video clip in which Pudasaini held the trio “responsible” for deciding to kill himself.

Lamichhane’s ex-colleague Pudasaini was found hanging by a ceiling fan in a room at Hotel Kangaroo in Narayangadh on August 5.

Meanwhile, the police have presented the trio before the district court as the re-extended five-day custody come to final day today.

Discussion on whether to release the trio on bail or extend their custody will be discussed in the court now.