Limitations to File a Rape Case?

-Deeya Malla

Recently, the entire Nepali social media has been blown off by the 20 videos posted on TikTok by Sushmita Regmi, in which she confessed how an organizer of a beauty pageant raped and blackmailed her in 2014 when she was only 16. The video sparked an extreme outrage which led people to start demanding action to be taken against the perpetrator and the provision of justice for the survivor by staging protests across the Kathmandu valley. This particular incident triggered the minds of all Nepali citizens, especially the teen fanbase. With the immense support Regmi received, she allegedly tried to file a complaint but she couldn’t because the statute of limitation for rape cases in Nepal is just one year. Recently, the entire Nepali social media has been blown off by the 20 videos posted on TikTok by Sushmita Regmi, in which she confessed how an organizer of a beauty pageant raped and blackmailed her in 2014 when she was only 16. The video sparked an extreme outrage which led people to start demanding action to be taken against the perpetrator and the provision of justice for the survivor by staging protests across the Kathmandu valley. This particular incident triggered the minds of all Nepali citizens, especially the teen fanbase. With the immense support Regmi received, she allegedly tried to file a complaint but she couldn’t because the statute of limitation for rape cases in Nepal is just one year.

“How can they say that I am no longer an abuse survivor because the incident took place eight years ago? What kind of rule is this when they won’t take my report; the police say the court will refuse to take my file,” she stated with tears rolling down her eyes in a video posted on her TikTok. Soon after, laws never noticed were brought to light and interrogation of the terminology “feminism” in the context of Nepal started arising like a forest fire. The police claimed this case of Regmi to be not only rape but a crime against humanity and the application of the statute of limitation was not to be done here. Besides, the restrictions on accessing legal remedies have denied justice to victims of child rape immensely and have imposed an unfair and unjustified burden and haste on victims, allowing the culprit to circumvent justice. 

Thus, considering the potency of Nepali citizens for victims in almost every harassment/rape case, have to face stigma, shame, intimidation, trauma, damage, continuous threats and fear from the perpetrators and considering the demands of women's rights to strengthen the survivor’s rights; the Nepali parliament finally passed the bill to bring amendment in the statute of limitations while registering a rape case. Now, with great pride I a Nepali (women) citizen mention that in my country any form of rape case done at any period will be studied legally and hopefully justice will also be provided accordingly.