Barhathwa (Sarlahi): The Sarlahi District Court has sentenced Ram Bahadur Bamjan, also known as 'Little Buddha,' to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of five hundred thousand rupees for committing sexual offenses against a minor.

A bench led by Judge Jeevan Kumar Bhandari announced the verdict today, concluding the case that found Bamjan guilty of sexually abusing a minor girl. The court also ordered that the fine of Rs 500,000 be paid to the victim, as confirmed by court records keeper Sadan Adhikari.

The case began when the victim's family lodged a complaint at the District Police Office in Malangwa, accusing the 30-year-old Bamjan of abusing their daughter while they were staying at an ashram in Patharkot, Lalbandi Municipality, Sarlahi. Bamjan was subsequently arrested by a Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) team from his residence in Budhanilkantha Municipality-6, Kathmandu.

Bamjan, once revered by many as an ascetic and called 'Little Buddha,' faces multiple accusations, including murder, disappearance, and sexual assault against his followers residing in his ashrams. Five families have filed complaints against him, with allegations that three young women and two young men have gone missing from the ashram.

This verdict marks a significant legal and social development in addressing allegations of abuse within religious communities in Nepal.