A District Court of Nepal has issued an arrest warrant against Rabi Lamichhane, leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and former Home Minister of Nepal. The warrant was issued by Judge Krishna Jung Shah on Friday in connection with Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in the Suryadarshan Cooperative fraud case.
According to the Parliamentary Special Investigation Committee’s report, Lamichhane has been implicated in the misuse of funds related to the cooperative savings scheme. Following this report, the police requested permission to arrest him for further investigation, which the Kaski District Court granted.
This arrest warrant follows the earlier arrest of Lamichhane’s former business partner and former DIG (Deputy Inspector General) Chhabilal Joshi, who had also been involved in the cooperative scandal. Joshi’s testimony reportedly led to the decision to pursue Lamichhane’s arrest.
In response to the warrant, Lamichhane took to Facebook, expressing his commitment to cooperating with the legal process while strongly defending his innocence. He accused powerful individuals of conspiring against him to cover up larger corruption issues, particularly in relation to the cooperative fraud.
In his post, Lamichhane wrote, “The government is dead, and we are left to deal with the fallout! You wear million-rupee watches gifted by smugglers, and I am left to wear handcuffs?” He continued to criticize what he called the hypocrisy of those who evade justice despite being involved in large-scale corruption, while he faces accusations of fraud. Lamichhane further stated that despite these accusations, he has always abided by the law and will continue to do so.
He also alleged that influential political figures, including the current government, were behind the fraud scandal, manipulating the cooperative sector for their own benefit. He claimed that many individuals within the ruling parties were involved in embezzling billions, yet they were being protected, while he was being scapegoated to divert attention from their wrongdoing.
Lamichhane ended his post by stating his trust in the judiciary and the Nepali people, expressing confidence that justice would eventually prevail. He urged his party members and supporters to stay strong, declaring, “Your president has not defrauded anyone.”
This development has sent ripples through Nepal’s political landscape, particularly as Lamichhane’s Rastriya Swatantra Party has been a rising force in the country’s politics, advocating for transparency and anti-corruption reforms. His supporters believe the charges are politically motivated, aimed at discrediting him and weakening his party. However, the legal proceedings ahead will determine the future course of this case.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
