Sandeep: ‘We were in the same room but I slept on a couch and she slept on the bed’

KATHMANDU, Oct 31: Sandeep Lamichhane, the cricketer who has been accused of raping a minor, has maintaied that it was true that they were in a same room but slept separately.

‘I slept on a couch while she slept on the bed,’ Lamichhane said.

Lamichhane has also stated in his statement that it was the girls idea to stay for a night in a hotel. “I asked her for her hostel’s location but she told me that her hostel was closed by that time.”

“I then booked a room at Hotel Kathmandu Inn,” Lamichhane further states.

Likewise, Lamichhane has also maintained that it was the girl herself who locked the door of the room after reaching the room.

“I then asked why are you locking the door. She answered, “It is ok”,” said Lamichhane.

“We then had a conversation and she told me that she was having some financial issues and was in trouble due to her parents. She also told me that she was 19 years old and had reduced her age in her credentials,” Lamichhane has maintained in his statement.

“I then decided to leave and assured her to drop her to her next morning but she insisted that I stay. I then agreed and was about to book another room for me but she again insisted to stay in the same room. She also asked to sit on the bed with her but I never moved from the chair. I woke up at 6 AM on the same chair. She was sleeping on the bed. I woke her up and freshened up. Then I dropped her off at her hostel at 6:45 AM.”

“That evening I flew with the Nepali team for Kenya. After reaching there we had a conversation on Whatsapp and I told her that I was busy and had to focus on my game,” Lamichhane has stated in his statement.