SC reverses its verdict on Ranjan Koirala

By A Staff Reporter Kathmandu, May 27: The Supreme Court has revoked its earlier verdict to release former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Armed Police Force Nepal Ranjan Koirala, who was jailed on charge of murdering his wife (Gita).

A full bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Deepak Kumar Karki, Justices Tanka Bahadur Moktan and Dr. Kumar Chundal on Thursday reviewed the case and decided to reverse the earlier decision taken by suspended Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana to curtail Koirala’s jail term and release him. 

“A full bench led by Acting Chief Justice Karki, Justices Tanka Bahadur Moktan and Dr. Kumar Chundal announced the verdict of ‘some reverse’ against the earlier decision of the joint bench of the apex court,” said Spokesperson for the Supreme Court, Bimal Poudel.

According to him, Koirala will have to spend a full 20 years in jail. He had been imprisoned for only eight and a half years till now. Koirala, who was released from prison following the full court’s decision, will now have to spend about 11 and a half years in prison, he said. 

Koirala was acquitted two years ago by a bench of suspended Chief Justice Rana and Justice Tej Bahadur KC. 

The Supreme Court had reduced the life sentence of the then DIG Ranjan Koirala, who was involved in killing his wife and destroying her body, saying that he would be sentenced to eight and a half years in prison. 

A bench of the suspended CJ Rana and Justice KC had ruled that Koirala’s killing of his wife was an ‘impulsive’ act and his case had to be seen on humanitarian ground for taking care of children.