April 11, Kathmandu-  A bench of the Patan Hetauda High Court on Sunday acquitted 13 accused in the murder of Krishna Prasad Adhikari. According to advocate Keshav Gautam, who is arguing on behalf of the 13 accused, a joint bench of Justices Chandiraj Dhakal and Marina Shrestha acquitted the 13 accused.

Adhikari's father Nanda Prasad Adhikari and brother Nur Prasad Adhikari had filed a case against 13 villagers of Gorkha Fujel in the Chitwan District Court alleging that they were involved in the murder of Krishna Prasad Adhikari.

The Chitwan court had acquitted only 13 defendants in the case. Krishna Prasad Adhikari's father Nanda Prasad and brother Nur Prasad had filed an appeal against the decision of the district court in Chitwan.

Advocates Raman Shrestha, Chandi Raj Shrestha, Deen Mani Pokhrel, Mukti Pradhan, and Keshav Gautam debated on the issue. Krishna Prasad Adhikari was shot dead by an unidentified person in June 2004 A.D.