The Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the decision of Patan High Court to release national cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane on bail.

The office knocked the door of the apex court demanding revocation of the high court’s decision and further investigation into the rape charge against Lamichhane by keeping him in judicial custody. Following the high court verdict, Lamichhane was released from custody on January 13 after posting a bail of Rs2 million.

“We have filed an application at the Supreme Court demanding revocation of the Patan High Court’s decision to release Lamichhane on bail,” said Sanjeev Regmi, spokesperson at the Attorney General’s Office. “The accused must be in custody throughout the course of the investigation.”

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

On January 12 , a division bench of judges Dhruva Raj Nanda and Ramesh Dahal decided to release him on bail while the investigation continues. The court, however, has barred Lamichhane from traveling abroad and directed him to report to the police while leaving Kathmandu.

The District Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu has lodged 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 2017.

The minor, on September 6 last year, had registered the first information report against the 22-year-old cricketer at the Metropolitan Police Circle Gaushala, Kathmandu.

On October 1, Lamichhane announced that he would return to Nepal on October 6 to face legal charges. Soon after he landed at the airport, he was arrested by officials at the Department of Immigration and police personnel in plain clothes.

If proven guilty, he will be imprisoned for 10 to 12 years per existing legal provisions.