SC to rule on Agni Sapkota case Wednesday

Kathmandu, August 28—The Supreme Court is set to deliver a judgment in the case against former Speaker and CPN Maoist Center spokesperson Agni Sapkota.

The Constitutional Bench has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday to announce its verdict. The hearing was previously delayed on June 26 due to the absence of a judge.

The case involves a petition filed by Arjun Lama's family, demanding an investigation into his murder. The Constitutional Bench, which includes Chief Justice Bishwambhar Shrestha, Prakashman Singh Raut, Sapana Pradhan Malla, Prakash Kumar Dhungana, and Kumar Regmi, had initially set the judgment date for June 26. However, the decision was postponed because the senior-most judge, Prakashman Singh Raut, was inspecting courts in Baglung.

Purnimaya Lama, the widow of Arjun Lama, petitioned the Supreme Court in November 2012, to investigate the murder and to hold leaders, including Sapkota, accountable.

There are currently three writ petitions on this matter. The petitioner has called for an investigation and arrest of Sapkota, while the respondents argue that the transitional justice mechanism should handle the case as it pertains to a conflict. The bench is expected to hear final arguments and deliver its verdict today.