Former National cricket team captain Sandeep Lamichhane was found guilty of raping a minor by a court ruling on Friday. Earlier in January, Lamichhane had been released by a Nepal court after being initially arrested due to allegations from a 17-year-old girl, claiming he assaulted her in a hotel room in Kathmandu the previous August. Lamichhane, 23, is a prominent figure in Nepal's cricketing scene, notably being the first Nepali cricketer to join the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he debuted for the Delhi Capitals franchise in 2018.

The court's decision came from a single bench led by Judge Shishir Raj Dhakal following final hearings that began on Sunday, as reported by the Kathmandu Post. Lamichhane has been convicted of rape by the Kathmandu District Court, and the upcoming hearing will determine the duration of his imprisonment as a senior member of the national team.

Lamichhane is presently out on bail, granted by the Patan High Court.

On January 12, the Patan High Court ordered the release of the cricketer. Responding to a review petition filed by Lamichhane, a joint bench of judges Dhruva Raj Nanda and Ramesh Dahal ordered Lamichhane's release on a bail bond of Rs 2 million with conditions.

Earlier, on November 4, 2022, the Kathmandu District Court issued an order to transfer Lamichhane to the central jail in Sundhara after a detention hearing. In response, Lamichhane appealed this decision in the high court, contesting the order.

The Kathmandu District Attorney's Office lodged a case against Lamichhane, charging him with the rape of the girl on August 21. The minor had initially filed a case against the cricketer on September 6 at the Metropolitan Police Circle in Gaushala. Following his return from Trinidad and Tobago, where he participated in the Caribbean Premier League, Nepal Police arrested Lamichhane on October 6 at Tribhuvan International Airport.

Through the charge sheet, the district attorney had demanded compensation from Lamichhane for the victim's alleged physical and mental torture. After the charge sheet was filed, Lamichhane's bank account and property were frozen.