Govindbahadur Sentenced to 10 Years Imprisonment

The Supreme Court has sentenced Govindbahadur Batal, an accused involved in the murder of Koteshwar businessman Ramhari Shrestha, to 10 years in prison. The court overturned the earlier joint bench verdict of 3 years imprisonment and, through a review, imposed a 10-year sentence on Batal. Kathmandu, 28 Jestha.

The joint bench of Supreme Court justices Dr. Nahakul Subedi, Abdul Aziz Musalman, and Shanti Singh Thapa handed down the 10-year prison sentence to Batal. Previously, the Supreme Court’s joint bench had sentenced him to 3 years. Upon review, that decision was reversed, resulting in the longer sentence.

The incident dates back 18 years, during the 2006/07 people’s movement and the Maoist peace process. When the Maoist People’s Liberation Army’s various camps were concentrated, the Third Division, located in Shaktikhor, Chitwan, opened a liaison office in the house of Koteshwar businessman Ramhari Shrestha. On 14 Chaitra 2064 (circa late March 2008), 1.7 million rupees and a pistol were stolen from this liaison office.

During the investigation of the incident, Batal and his group abducted Keshav Adhikari, Gangaram Thapa, and Ramhari Shrestha and took them to Chitwan. According to Batal’s claim, on 31 Baishakh 2065 (mid-May 2008), Keshav Adhikari and Gangaram Thapa assaulted Ramhari Shrestha in the morning, leaving him critically injured. The body was disposed of in the Narayani River, and when attempts were made to take him to a hospital for treatment, Shrestha died along the way.

Batal alleged that the assault was committed by Keshav Adhikari and Gangaram Thapa and professed his innocence. The District Court of Chitwan had sentenced Batal to 3 years imprisonment on 17 Jestha 2068 (early June 2011) in a murder case.

The Supreme Court had earlier acquitted Batal, concluding he was not directly involved in the murder. However, the Office of the Attorney General filed a review petition against that ruling. Justices Deepak Kumar Karki, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, and Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma ordered a review of the verdict on 15 Ashoj 2077 (late September 2020).

Ultimately, the Supreme Court’s full bench reversed the previous joint bench and district court rulings, imposing a 10-year imprisonment sentence on Batal.