Suspended chief justice apologizes for reducing sentence in Ranjan Koirala case

Kathmandu, 4 September (2022) - Suspended Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher JB Rana has apologized for the verdict in the case of former DIG of Armed Police Ranjan Koirala.

Rana said that he would apologize for reducing sentence of Koirala who was found guilty of murdering his wife.

"In this case, I have reduced the sentence under the right to use the discretion granted by the Criminal Code," MP Pramod Sah told Lokantar, quoting Cholendra's statement. "If impeachment has been moved against me because of this issue and there was a mistake in using discretion while issuing a sentence, then I want to apologize to the people."

Rana had reduced the sentence of former DIG Koirala from 20 years to 8 years, citing the reason that Koirala had to take care of his son.

Koirala, who was released soon after, was sent to jail again after the Supreme Court overturned Rana's verdict.

The statement taken by the impeachment recommendation committee of the parliament with the suspended Chief Justice Rana completed 11 questions and was adjourned for the third day on Sunday.

Committee member Ekwal Mia informed that after Rana answered five questions on Sunday, the meeting was adjourned due to the busy schedule of MPs.

"The statement regarding questions number seven to 11 is over today," Mia said.

Out of 43 questions prepared, answers to 11 questions have been completed in three days.