Kathmandu, November 6
The Supreme Court has upheld the five-year prison sentence for Gandaki Province Assembly member Deepak Manange in an attempted murder case.
On Tuesday, a bench comprising Justices Dr Nahakul Subedi and Tek Prasad Dhungana upheld the previous decision made by the then Patan Appellate Court (now High Court Patan), which had sentenced Manange to five years in prison in 2012.
Background of the case
In 2004, Manange’s group attacked rival gangster Milan Gurung, also known as “Chakre Milan,” with a sword. Following the incident, the District Attorney’s Office in Kathmandu filed a case against Manange’s group, initially charging them with murder. However, the Kathmandu District Court ruled it as assault rather than attempted murder, sentencing Manange to two years in prison, while acquitting co-defendants Ganesh Lama, Rewat Karki, Ramesh Sunuwar, and Umesh Lama.
Dissatisfied, the Attorney’s Office appealed to the Patan Appellate Court, which in 2012 found Manange guilty of attempted murder, sentencing him to five years in prison but upholding the lower court’s acquittal of the others.
The Attorney’s Office appealed to the Supreme Court for penalties for the four acquitted associates as well. In 2018, the Supreme Court endorsed the appellate court’s decision, sentencing only Manange.
Following the 2012 sentencing by the Patan Appellate Court, Manange was detained but later released pending appeal, as his sentence was less than ten years, allowing him to remain free during the legal process.
Despite his legal battles, Manange was elected twice as a member of the Gandaki Province Assembly from Manang and has also served as a minister multiple times.
