Kathmandu: A Janakpur High Court in Nepal has acquitted Ram Bahadur Bomjan aka “Buddha Boy” in a child sexual abuse case. Dubbed as “Buddha Boy” in early 2005, the controversial spiritual leader was arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal from the outskirts of the capital, Kathmandu and taken to Sarlahi on 10 January last year.
The Janakpur High Court acquitted Bomjan in the case on March 19, along with Gyan Bahadur and Dig Bahadur Bomjan.
A joint bench of Justices Khemraj Bhatta and Narishwar Bhandari acquitted Bomjon overturning the Sarlahi District Court’s verdict. The full text of the verdict also has been made public. Following the acquittal, Bomjon has been released from Sindhupalchowk Prison.
“A letter of the Janakpur High Court’s verdict was received that night. We released him the next morning on March 20,” confirmed Niraj Ram Danai, the acting chief of Sindhupalchowk Prison, to ANI. Bomjon ran an ashram in Sindhupalchowk. On October 10, 2019, Gangamaya Tamang of Rautahat filed a complaint against Bomjon, alleging that he raped her while she was staying at the ashram.
The case was filed under the statute of limitations of the Act Related to Children, which allows a victim to file a complaint of sexual abuse or rape that occurred during their childhood after turning 18. Gangamaya filed the complaint after turning 18, as per this legal provision. She alleged that Bomjon raped her on August 4, 2016. Following her complaint, the police opened an investigation. Based on the police investigation report, the District Government Attorney’s Office filed a case against Bomjon, seeking a prison term of 12 to 14 years and appropriate compensation for the victim. Similarly, it demanded prison sentences for two other individuals. (ANI)
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