KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court on Tuesday acquitted District Judge Bhuwan Giri of marital rape charges.

A division bench of Justices Binod Sharma and Bal Krishna Dhakal passed the verdict, upholding the previous decision of the Patan High Court.

Judge Giri was serving at the Darchula District Court when his former wife, Aarati Rawal Giri, lodged a police complaint accusing him of marital rape, which led to his arrest and subsequent investigation.

While the Kathmandu District Court had initially found Giri guilty—sentencing him to seven years in prison alongside a fine of Rs 300,000—the Patan High Court overturned the ruling on April 13, 2024.

With the apex court now validating the High Court’s acquittal, the controversial legal battle has reached its final conclusion.