Kathmanu- Chhabilal Poudel, the main accused in the 2004 murder of Krishna Prasad Adhikari of Fujel, Gorkha, surrendered to the Supreme Court on Sunday. He was sent to Dillibazaar Prison soon afterwards.

There was intense pressure on the government from several domestic and international rights organisations to arrest Poudel due to the seriousness of the case. Poudel, 68, pleaded before the Supreme Court to remain in custody while he defends the case. Soon after accepting his plea, the apex court sent him to jail, court officials said.

The Chitwan District Court on April 17, 2014 ordered Poudel’s release on bail. The apex court on December 21, 2015 revoked the decision of the court and Hetauda Appellate Court to grant him bail.
Adhikari, 19, from the erstwhile Fujel VDC-7 of Gorkha, was allegedly abducted and murdered in Chitwan by former Maoist rebels charging him with spying for the state forces. His father Nanda Prasad Adhikari died in course of an indefinite hunger strike in September 2014.

Adhikari’s mother Ganga Maya has been staging an indefinite hunger strike since May 29 demanding arrest of the murder accused.