Kaski Court extends Lamichhane's custody for 15 days

NOVEMBER 24: The Kaski District Court has extended the investigation period for Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane by 15 days.

The single bench of Justice Bhimlal Belbase granted permission to keep Lamichhane in custody for further investigation. After the previous 13-day extension expired on November 10, he was presented before the court earlier today. Lamichhane was arrested in Kathmandu on October 19 in connection with an alleged cooperative fraud case.

In addition to cooperative fraud, Lamichhane is also being investigated for organized crime and money laundering. He faces allegations of embezzling funds from the Suryadarshan Cooperative in Pokhara and misusing them in Kathmandu's Gorkha Media Pvt. Ltd.

A complaint was filed against him ( Managing Director of Gorkha Media)  along with GB Rai (Chairman of the company), Chhabilal Joshi and Kumar Ramtel (board members of the company). They are accused of siphoning approximately NPR 50 million from Suryadarshan Cooperative into Gorkha Media.

The parliamentary special investigation committee also identified them as culpable and recommended further inquiries. Acting on this recommendation, the police detained Lamichhane and Chhabilal Joshi for questioning, while GB Rai remains at large.

Lamichhane is further accused of misappropriating funds from Chitwan's Sahara Cooperative and channeling them into Gorkha Media. On November 21, the Chitwan District Court issued arrest warrants for Lamichhane and ten others.

According to police investigations, there is no direct record of loans being issued in Lamichhane's name by the Suryadarshan Cooperative in Pokhara, the Supreme Cooperative in Butwal, or the Sahara Cooperative in Chitwan. However, funds from these cooperatives were traced to Gorkha Media, implicating Lamichhane in subsequent financial transactions and expenditures.

The RSP, meanwhile, has claimed that Lamichhane’s arrest is politically motivated.