Parliamentary Special Committee plans to question Lamichhane on August 23

Kathmandu, August 19 - The parliamentary special committee investigating the misappropriation of cooperative savings plans to summon Rabi Lamichhane, President of the Rashtriya Swotantra Party (RSP), for a statement. A committee member informed Ratopati that preparations are underway to take Lamichhane’s statement on August 23.

The member emphasized that the committee would not call Lamichhane without sufficient evidence and is working to strengthen the case. "The committee plans to call him on August 23 to take his statement," said the member.

Before questioning Lamichhane, the committee interviewed Bipin Acharya, the joint General Secretary of RSP, on Sunday. Acharya’s statement is expected to help the committee build additional evidence against Lamichhane. The committee is also gathering statements from Kumar Ramtel, Roshni Gurung, and others to further substantiate the claims.

The member also informed that Acharya had stated his signature would be valid only after Lamichhane became the managing director of the company, and that related evidence has surfaced in the media.

Another committee member revealed that preparations are being made to summon Chhabi Lal Joshi and Rabi Lamichhane, both early investors in Galaxy Television under Gorkha Media, on the same day. Joshi, who is currently occupied with his mother’s funeral rites, is expected to be available after the 22nd. The committee intends to question both Joshi and Lamichhane on the 23rd.

The investigation centers on allegations that Rabi Lamichhane embezzled funds from various cooperatives to support Galaxy TV, in partnership with GB Rai. It is claimed that funds were transferred from Surya Darshan Cooperative in Pokhara, Sahara Chitwan Cooperative, and Supreme Cooperative in Butwal to Gorkha Media.

GV Rai served as President and Ravi Lamichhane as Managing Director at Galaxy Television, which was operated by Gorkha Media Network. Lamichhane has claimed a 15 percent stake in the company. The committee was established under Surya Thapa’s leadership after the Nepali Congress, then the main opposition party, consistently blocked parliamentary proceedings, alleging Lamichhane's involvement in cooperative fraud.