Cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane lands in Kathmandu. Police arrests him at the airport

Former Nepal cricket team captain Sandeep Lamichhane has been arrested from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. He is accused of raping a 17-year-old girl.

Also read: Cricket Association of Nepal Suspends Sandeep Lamichhane after Arrest Warrant issued against him for Raping Minor

Lamichhane had earlier called all the allegations baseless in the case of raping a minor girl. But later he agreed to surrender. After being accused of rape, Sandeep had left Nepal and the police was looking for him. He later said that he was ready to surrender and would return to the country on October 6.

In his clarification, Lamichhane wrote on Facebook, "As per my sincere commitment to submit myself to the authority of Nepal, I am landing at 10:00 am from Qatar Airways in the Tribhuvan International Airport at Kathmandu,"

The Nepal Police had sought Interpol's help after they could not traced Sandeep's whereabouts. On the request of Nepal Police, Interpol issued a 'diffusion' notice against former Nepal national cricket team captain Sandeep Lamichhane. A Nepali court had on September 8 issued a warrant for Lamichhane's arrest for raping a 17-year-old girl.

In an FIR lodged with the Gaushala Mahanagar Police Circle, the teenage girl alleged that Lamichhane raped her in a hotel. Sandeep allegedly took the girl to various places in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur on August 21. He raped her the same night in a hotel in Kathmandu. Sandeep Lamichhane is the first player from Nepal to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He made headlines in 2018 by making his debut for the Delhi Capitals franchise.

Also read: Nepal cricket team captain Sandeep Lamichhane faces rape accusations

Recently, Kathmandu Police Dinesh Mainali had told that the district court had issued an arrest warrant against Sandeep for further investigation. The police had said on Wednesday that if Sandeep is not in Nepal, then the Kathmandu police will take the help of foreign agencies or Interpol. Nepal's cricket board made Sandeep captain last year.