The Patan High Court on Sunday sentenced Prithvi Malla to four years in jail and slapped a fine of Rs 40,000 for killing a pedestrian due to reckless driving while under the influence in December 2019.

The joint bench of Judges Rajendra Kharel and Jagadish Ghimire announced the punishment after finding Malla to be guilty, informed Spokesperson for Patan High Court, Mandira Shahi.

The High Court revoked the verdict of the Kathmandu District Court that had deemed the case to be a normal accident. Malla, who was driving the car at the time of the incident, was drunk and did not have a driving license.

Malla, who was 21 years old at the time of the incident, was taken into custody after killing 38-year-old Lila Devkota in a drunk-driving accident in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu.

Even in judicial custody during the case, he spent most of his time in the hospital on medical grounds until he was released on bail in July 2020.

The Kathmandu District Court, in March 2022, convicted Malla of the crime and was sentenced to jail for just six months along with a fine of Rs 1,000.

The decision was heavily criticized by the public and the government attorneys went to the High Court, challenging the decision.