Former House Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara has moved the Patan High Court, challenging the remand order of the Kathmandu District Court over attempted rape allegations.

Earlier this month, the Kathmandu District Court had remanded Mahara in judicial custody until the final verdict in the case. 

Baburam Dahal, the registrar at Patan High Court, told the Post on Thursday that the former Speaker has filed an appeal seeking a review of the District Court’s order.

“The appeal has been registered, and the High Court is expected to ask the District Court to furnish the details about the case on Friday. The hearing on the case will start later,” Dahal said.

Mahara was arrested on October 6, two days after a woman who works at the Parliament Secretariat lodged a complaint with the police, accusing him of attempted rape on September 29.

Police had filed a charge sheet against Mahara on October 31, recommending five to seven-and-a-half years jail term for him.

Four days after his arrest, Mahara was shifted to Norvic Hospital after he complained of chest pain. Since then, Mahara had been defending his case from the hospital, with a defence team of nearly 30 lawyers, including former attorney general, Raman Kumar Shrestha.

“After the order of the District Court to remand Mahara in judicial custody, he was taken to Dillibazaar prison,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati, a spokesperson for the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range.