Lamichhane to appear in court today for 3rd remand, RSP plans protests in Pokhara

Kathmandu, November 5 — The president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rabi Lamichhane, is set to be presented in court today for a possible extension of his detention. Lamichhane, who is currently in custody at the Kaski District Police Office, will be taken to the Kaski District Court for the extension of his detention period.

Although the police had already received a 14-day detention extension from the court on October 30, they were unable to present Lamichhane in court earlier due to the Tihar holidays. Today, the court will decide whether or not to extend Lamichhane’s detention, and if an extension is granted, the court will consider the Tihar holidays in the calculation of the detention period.

Lamichhane was arrested on October 18 in connection with an alleged embezzlement case involving a cooperative's savings. He was granted two previous extensions on October 20 and October 22. Investigations are also underway regarding money laundering and organized crime charges.

While preparations are underway to present Lamichhane for a detention extension hearing, the RSP is organizing a demonstration in Pokhara today. Party leaders from Kathmandu and other regions are expected to gather in the city for the protest.

Lamichhane's statement has been completed. Investigators had questioned him for a total of nine days, and his statement reportedly spans 45 pages. According to one officer involved in the investigation, Lamichhane denied taking loans from the Suryadarshan Cooperative. Lamichhane claimed that he was neither a shareholder nor a borrower of the cooperative, and he was not part of the management or any other committee of the organization.

Along with Lamichhane, former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, Lila Pachhai, and Ram Bahadur Khanal are also in police custody in connection with the embezzlement case.

Preparation for transfer to Rupandehi

The Rupandehi Police have sent a letter requesting Lamichhane's presence for investigation in relation to the embezzlement case involving the Supreme Savings and Credit Cooperative in Butwal. According to Rupandehi's SP Ranjit Singh Rathor, arrangements are being made to bring Lamichhane to Butwal.

Investigations have revealed that Lamichhane took out a loan from the Supreme Savings and Credit Cooperative in Butwal. On March 2, 2021, he borrowed 20 million Nepali rupees from the cooperative. The loan amount was subsequently deposited into the account of Gorkha Media Network Pvt. Ltd. at Global IME Bank Ltd., according to an indictment filed in April 2024 in the Rupandehi District Court.

Previously, a lawsuit had already been filed in court, naming Giten Baba (GB) Rai from Okhaldhunga’s Sunkoshi Rural Municipality and former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun's son Dipesh Kumar Pun among 28 defendants. However, when questions were raised about Lamichhane’s exclusion as a defendant, the police in Butwal are now conducting supplementary investigations against him.