The Patan High Court on Thursday ordered the release of suspended cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane, who is accused of raping a minor, on bail.

Responding to a review petition filed by Lamichhane, a joint bench of judges Dhruva Raj Nanda and Ramesh Dahal ordered Lamichhane's release on a bail bond of Rs2 million with conditions, according to Thagindra Kattel, registrar at the Patan High Court.

The court in its verdict said that as it has already received certain evidence, the concern that the defendant may put pressure on the victim to give statements under duress had become irrelevant. The court has also mentioned that the defendant (Lamichhane) was under mental strain.

“In this context, on the ground of analysis of aforementioned bases and reasons, and considering the incident and series of circumstances after the incident, it doesn’t seem appropriate to detain this defendant any further,” the Patan High Court has stated. “Therefore, the order of the [district] court has been invalidated.”

Lamichhane’s lawyer Murari Sapkota said the high court has barred the cricketer from travelling abroad and also from publicly commenting on this issue.

The Kathmandu District Court on November 4 had passed the order to send Lamichhane to the Sundhara-based central jail after a detention hearing. Lamichhane had moved the high court challenging the order.

“We have yet to get a letter from the High Court,” said Ishwari Prasad Pandey, jailor at the central jail. “Maybe we will get it by tomorrow. We will release him immediately once we get the letter.”

Pandey said Lamichhane is likely to be released by 1pm on Friday. He also informed that Lamichhane is in good health.

The Kathmandu District Attorney’s Office has filed a case against Lamichhane accusing him of raping a 17-year-old girl on August 21. He has been charged under Section 219 of the Criminal Code 2074.

The minor had filed a case against the 22-year-old cricketer on September 6 at the Metropolitan Police Circle, Gaushala.

Lamichhane was in Trinidad & Tobago to play in the Caribbean Premier League.

Nepal Police arrested him on October 6 from Tribhuvan International Airport.

Through the chargesheet, the district attorney had demanded compensation from Lamichhane for the victim’s alleged physical and mental torture. After the charge sheet was filed, Lamichhane’s bank account and property were frozen.

If the charge against him is proven, he will be imprisoned for 10 to 12 years per the existing legal provisions.