The Supreme Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging President Ram Chandra Paudel’s decision to grant a pardon to Resham Chaudhary, patron of the Nagarik Unmukti Party Nepal, who was convicted in the Tikapur incident.
A joint bench of Justices Sharanga Subedi and Shreekanta Paudel dismissed the petition on Tuesday. The full text of the verdict has not yet been released.
Sharada Kadayat had filed two writ petitions on May 30, 2023, and November 7, 2023, arguing that President Paudel granted a pardon to Chaudhary upon the government's recommendation despite Chaudhary being convicted by courts across all three tiers.
Kadayat is the wife of police inspector Keshav Bohara, who was killed in the Tikapur incident.
Chaudhary was released from prison on May 29, 2023, after receiving the presidential pardon.
Kadayat argued that granting a pardon to Chaudhary, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, was unconstitutional and unlawful.
On August 24, 2015, a protest led by the Tharuhat/Tharuwan Struggle Committee turned violent in Tikapur, Kailali, resulting in the deaths of eight police personnel and a minor.
Those killed included Nepal Police Senior Superintendent Laxman Neupane, Inspectors Balaram Bista and Keshav Bohara, Head Constable Shyam Bahadur Khadka, Constable Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Armed Police Force Senior Head Constable Lalit Saud, Assistant Head Constable Ram Bihari Chaudhary, and Police Constable Janak Negi.
On February 23, 2019, the Kailali District Court sentenced 11 people, including Resham Chaudhary, to life imprisonment, finding them primarily responsible for the incident. The Dipayal High Court also upheld the life sentences.
On May 16, 2023, the Supreme Court likewise upheld the lower courts’ verdicts and declined to acquit Chaudhary. The presidential pardon followed shortly afterward.
