The man accused in the fatal drunk-driving car accident in the Capital last December has been sent to jail until a final verdict in the case is announced.

Judge Dipak Kumar Dahal at the Kathmandu District Court issued the order against Prithvi Malla.

The 21-year-old was taken into police custody after causing the death of 38-year-old Lila Devkota in a drunk-driving accident in Budhanilkantha on December 14.

Malla has been accused of vehicular homicide.

“After completing the investigation, we submitted our report to the District Attorney Office for further proceedings on January 5,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Umesh Lamsal, chief of Maharajgunj police station.

The District Attorney Office had sent its chargesheet to the court on January 6.

“We have sought up to 10 years jail term for the accused for vehicular homicide,” said Chandra Kanta Khanal, joint attorney at the Kathmandu District Court.

The case of vehicular homicide, according to Article 161 (2) of the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act, carries a jail term that ranges from two years to 10 years.

“Malla will remain in judicial custody in Dillibazar prison until the final verdict, as per Judge Dahal’s orders,” said Ananda Prasad Shrestha,the registrar of the Kathmandu District Court.

Meanwhile, model Paramita Rana, after remaining silent for more than 25 days, has admitted to riding in the car driven by Malla.

On Tuesday, Rana on her facebook account wrote about the incident. She said the accident had occurred due to drunken driving. She apologised for the accident and for being late in sharing details about the incident.