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.

KATHMANDU, Aug24: A congregation of media personnel along with various artists firmly stand for a fair and free trial of medial personality Rabi Lamichhane, along with Yuvraj Kandel and Roku Karki aka Asmita. Speaking at a special press conference organized at the Reporters Club, actor Nirmal Sharma introduced the intricacies of the case and asked the artists to voice their various concerns on the occasion. The trio’s extended custody ends tomorrow, and they will be produced before the court who will decide on the future course of their fate.

President of the Reporters Club Rishi Dhamala stated “I am confident that justice will be served. We have to have faith in the justice system. Speaking at the program Dhamala said that he was the first journalists to voice his concern regarding this matter urging for a free and fair investigation. He firmly believes that the justice system needs a stronger mechanism, and there needs to be concrete evidence to continue keeping Rabi and the rest in custody. “I also spoke to the Inspector General of Police and he has assured me that Rabi is safe and that he need not worry about his life”. Dhamala also stressed on the importance of being dutiful as a citizen, “we need to let the legal procedures take its course, we have spaces for debate, the Reporters Club is such an avenue for healthy debates and we always encourage that. As media person’s we have to be unbiased and not take sides, we have to allow the justice system to perform its duties “he said.

Similarly, acclaimed Nepali actor Deepak Raj Giri spoke with deep sentiments in the program. He had faced tough situations in life and he offered his support to Rabi for what he is currently going through. He started by saying “May the departed soul rest in peace. I know it is extremely painful even to think of taking this drastic step. Life is like that and there are injustices in every step. There are hurdles and it always poses extreme challenges which make certain individuals quite midway. The current framework of law especially relating to the abetment of suicide has many loopholes. A person who dies may or may not be correct, we cannot look at a criminal case with a sentiment. Why are they numerous people in the streets protesting in favor of Rabi? He is the one who provides hope to the voiceless, and his phenomenal work is a result of him being popular among the general masses. Rabi is innocent, while suicide in itself is a heinous crime. I feel that he will get justice tomorrow. Rabi will continue a hero as against the villain he is made to be, with his continued great work in media”.

Popular action hero Nikhil Upreti spoke at length of the current state of the society and its mindset. “ I hope and pray for Rabi’s release he said, but in case he is guilty no one is above the law”, he thanked the Reporters Club for providing this platform where they could address their genuine concern regarding the current system and the injustice due to certain procedural loopholes. “We have to accept the legal framework and not protest in the streets, our institutions are in place and working within the mechanism guaranteed by the system and the constitution, let us hope for a free and fair investigation,” he said.

Actor Ramesh Upreti who was also present on the occasion kept it short by expressing his personal views that he had regarding the matter ” A free and fair investigation is required, we have to follow legal procedures, Pray for Rabi’s release, and in case of him being found guilty no one is above the law” he said.

Also on the occasion actor, Anurag Kunwar stated his confidence that the investigative unit will be fair and arrives at a conclusion which will serve justice. He also spoke about justice for women for what they are going through. He said three women’s life has been miserable, late wife of slain journalist Pudsaini, accused Roku Karki aka Asmita, and Nikita wife of media personality Rabi Lamichhane. I hope they get justice soon he said.

The press conference was organized in solidarity for the earliest release of Rabi Lamichhane who they feel is being framed in this case. His extended custody ends tomorrow, and the court will decide the future course of action. There is hope that Rabi would be released from custody tomorrow.

KATHMANDU, Aug 23: Radio journalist Harisaran Lamichhane has claimed that his brother Rabi Lamichhane has no involvement in the suicide of journalist Salikram Pudasaini. He is innocent and will get out of prison with honor soon, he added.

Television presenter Rabi Lamichhane has been accused of abetting Pudasaini to commit suicide, whose body was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a room at Kangaroo Hotel in Narayangadh on August 5.

Kathmandu Metropolitan Police, in the request of Chitwan District Police, arrested Rabi on August 15 from Kathmandu base News24 office based on a video clip recorded by his ex-colleague Pudasaini in his final moments, in which he held Lamichhane “chiefly responsible for his decision to commit suicide.”

Yuvraj Kandel and Asmita Karki who were also mentioned in the 13-minute long video clip were also arrested and taken to Chitwan.

“Police say Pudasaini recorded several videos in the period of two hours before taking his own life. But only a portion of the video was leaked.”

Rabi Lamichhane’s wife Nikita Paudel had reached Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu on Wednesday for lodging a complaint against the editor of Jana Aastha Weekly Kishor Shrestha, the editor of online news portal Nepal Aaja Sanket Koirala and chief of District Police Office Chitwan SP Dan Bahadur Malla for tampering the electronic evidence of the video. However, the Range denied filing the complaint citing the case was under the purview of Chitwan Police.

The mobile phone which contained the video was recovered by police officials who had reached the hotel room where Pudasaini was found hanging and was sent to the digital forensic lab at the Crime Investigation Department.

“How did private media get access to the evidence (video clip) from the police? I briefly watched the interview of Kishor Shrestha in which he said he obtained the video from family sources? How did the family receive the video clip from the police?”

“I know Rabi and Kishor’s rivalry go years back. Both are competing against each other. Even though Pudasaini has categorically taken the names of Rabi and two others in the video, there is no concrete proof that Rabi used to torture him.”

“The video itself cannot be proof,” he added.

According to Harisaran, the police investigation is incomplete as the investigation process seems primarily focused on framing Rabi responsible for Pudasaini’s suicide.

Instead of widening the investigation, the investigation is centered on proving Rabi guilty. The investigation is incomplete and heading in the wrong direction,” he said.

“The investigation should not be limited to the video clip. They need to realize there are other factors as well. For example, why did Pudasaini go to Chitwan? Who called him? I have learned that Pudasaini had met some people when he was in Chitwan. Why don’t the police interrogate them?”

“Rabi and Pudasaini might have had rough moments. But these things alone could not have compelled him to the decision to end his own life. There might be many factors contributing to it such as family and society.”

“But I don’t believe Rabi will be proved guilty. I don’t believe Rabi has direct involvement in Pudsaini’s suicide. I am confident he is innocent and will be released from prison with honor,” Harisaran added.

Chitwan District Court on Sunday remanded Rabi Lamichhane, Karki and Kandel to extended of custody of five days to conduct further investigation into the death of the ex-colleague Pudasaini as the investigation remains inclusive.

Harisaran also denied reports that he politicized the Rabi’s case. Thousands of supporters of Rabi has been protesting in Bharatpur every day demanding his immediate release despite the district administration declaring the area restricted zone.

“Rabi is a prominent media figure. He advocated against injustice and corruption through his television program Sidha Kura Janta Sanga. The crowd there has not affected in the investigation but is a part that speaks Rabi is innocent.

“We did not gather them there. Neither have we politicized the case. The supporters of Rabi have arrived themselves.”

“The state should also understand the background and psychology of aggression of the crowd,” he added.