Birgunj bench of the High Court has acquitted former Nepali Congress lawmaker Mohammad Aftab Alam in a high-profile murder case linked to a deadly bomb explosion and killing in Rautahat district.
Alam had earlier been convicted by the Rautahat District Court and sentenced to life imprisonment for his alleged role in the murder of a person by burning him alive in a brick kiln in Rajpur, Rautahat. The incident occurred on the night before the Constituent Assembly elections on 27 Chaitra 2064.
According to the District Court’s ruling, Alam was involved in detonating a bomb that injured several people. To hide evidence, it was alleged that he arranged for the injured individuals to be burned in a brick kiln. The case remained dormant for over a decade until Rautahat police arrested Alam on 19 Asoj 2076 — nearly 12 years after the incident.
The High Court, however, overturned the earlier verdict, citing lack of sufficient evidence to uphold the conviction. This acquittal has triggered varied responses across the political spectrum, with some calling for deeper scrutiny into the case, while others claim the court has rectified an unjust ruling.
Alam has consistently denied the charges, labeling them as politically motivated. The verdict brings a significant shift in one of the most talked-about criminal cases involving a political figure in recent Nepali history.
