Butwal, January 23 – A decision by the Rupandehi District Court to release Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane into the custody of his family and legal team has raised serious questions. Government attorney Premraj Poudel criticized the move, arguing that Lamichhane, who is accused of embezzling cooperative funds, should have been kept in police custody.
Lamichhane appeared in court on Wednesday, where he provided a statement regarding charges of cooperative fraud and organized crime. However, as his statement could not be completed that day, District Judge Pralhad Kumar Yogi allowed him to leave under the care of his lawyers and family. This decision immediately drew criticism from government attorneys during Thursday’s remand hearing.
“What is the purpose of a remand hearing if the accused is released beforehand?” asked Poudel, emphasizing that individuals accused of such serious crimes should remain in custody for further investigation.
The Supreme Cooperative Fraud Case
The Supreme Cooperative case alleges that Lamichhane and 22 others misappropriated over NPR 550 million from 28 victims. Additional damages of NPR 109.9 million have been claimed against Lamichhane, former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, and Laxmi Prasad Poudel. Specifically, Lamichhane faces personal claims of NPR 20 million.
This is not the first time Lamichhane has faced legal trouble related to the case. He was previously released on bail of NPR 6.5 million by the Kaski District Court and NPR 6 million by the Kathmandu District Court.
Thursday’s Hearing
Government attorneys, including Deputy Attorneys Gokarna Raj Ghimire, Basant Pokharel, Sunil Lamichhane, and Pabitra Bhandari, joined Senior Deputy Attorney General Shobhakant Bhandari in presenting their arguments. Advocates Dinesh Tripathi and Surendra Bhandari also represented the complainants.
Despite the lengthy session, Lamichhane’s legal team has yet to present their arguments. His lawyers, including Sushil Pant and Surendra Thapa, are expected to argue on Friday.
What’s Next?
After both sides conclude their arguments, the court will decide whether Lamichhane and his co-defendants will be placed in custody, released on bail, or freed on general dates.
The case has drawn significant public attention, not only because of its financial magnitude but also because it raises broader concerns about the handling of high-profile financial crimes and the accountability of cooperative organizations in Nepal.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
