Kathmandu, June 4: The Judicial Council has convened an emergency meeting today morning to initiate an investigation into the judges who acquitted Nepali Congress leader and former minister Mohammad Aftab Alam in a murder case.
The meeting, called by Judicial Council Chair and Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut, began at 9 a.m. and is currently discussing the verdict that cleared Alam of murder charges.
This issue had come up recently during an informal “zero hour” meeting of Supreme Court justices. Following growing public criticism, Chief Justice Raut consulted with council members before calling the emergency meeting.
A complaint was filed with the Judicial Council a few days ago demanding an investigation into High Court judges Khusi Prasad Tharu and Arjun Maharjan. In response, the council has requested to submit full case file. Since the complete text of the verdict is not yet available, the council has also requested a certified copy of the ruling from the Birgunj bench of the High Court.
According to sources at the Supreme Court, most of the questions surrounding the acquittal of Alam focus on the role of Justice Khusi Prasad Tharu. While serving as a senior member of the Special Court, Tharu had previously acquitted then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure Bijay Kumar Gachhadar in the Lalita Niwas land scam, while holding a subordinate official, Deepak Kumar Basnyat, responsible.
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Life imprisonment to former lawmaker Alam on Rautahat murder case
After being transferred to the Birgunj bench of the High Court, Tharu headed the bench that acquitted Alam.
During the last general election day, it was alleged that Alam’s cronies in Rautahat burned two people in a chimney of local brick factory. The district court convicted Alam, his brother and others, and sent them to jail on charges of murder. #nepal #alam #judicial
