The Supreme Court has lifted the travel ban imposed on national cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane.

The rape-accused cricketer had moved the apex court on January 23 challenging the Patan High court’s January 12 order to release him on bail with conditions, which barred Lamichhane from travelling abroad and directed him to inform the police while leaving Kathmandu.

Responding to Lamichhane’s petition, a single bench of Justice Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada on January 24 refused to act per Lamichhane’s demand to allow him to participate in the ongoing triangular series of the ICC World Cup League 2 which began on Monday.

The court, however, decided to conduct a final hearing on the petitions from Lamichhane and the Attorney General’s Office on Sunday. But it could not complete the hearing and it was rescheduled for Monday.

In a hearing held on Monday, a division bench of justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Kumar Chudal ruled in favour of the petition filed by Lamichhane, allowing him to travel abroad.

In a separate hearing, the apex court also upheld the Patan High Court’s decision to release Lamichhane on bail.

The Attorney General’s Office on January 31 moved the Supreme Court challenging the decision of Patan High Court to release national cricketer Lamichhane on bail. It demanded revocation of the high court’s decision and further probe into the rape charges against him by keeping him in judicial custody. Following the high court’s verdict, Lamichhane was released from custody on January 13 after posting a bail of Rs2 million.

The District Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu has lodged a case against Lamichhane accusing him of raping a 17-year-old girl on August 21, 2022. He has been charged under Section 219 of the Criminal Code 2017.

On September 6 last year, the minor 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 the police personnel.