Supreme Court Allows Video Conference Statements for Defendants Abroad

Kathmandu. The Supreme Court has ruled that defendants residing abroad for foreign employment or study can give statements through video conferencing via the Nepali embassy in the respective country. 

A joint bench of Justices Hari Prasad Fuyaal and Balkrishna Dhakal overturned the Special Court's previous order, paving the way for statements to be taken through the use of technology.

Sabhita KC, a defendant in a corruption case, was issued a summons by the Special Court to appear within 15 days while she was in Australia for her studies. However, stating that she could not come to Nepal immediately, she filed a petition with the Special Court requesting to be allowed to give her statement via video conference through the Nepali embassy in Australia.

Previously, the Special Court had ruled that taking statements via video conference was not permissible, citing problems in the implementation of orders related to detention, bail, or surety after the statement of a defendant residing abroad. The Special Court's bench number one included Chairman Justice Teknarayan Kunwar and Members Justices Muraribabu Shrestha and Ritendra Thapa.

On August 9, 2025, the Special Court rejected her request, stating,