Swarnalakshmi Cooperative embezzlement: Statement recording begins with RSP President Lamichhane

Kathmandu, November 29 — Statement recording has begun with Rabi Lamichhane, President of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), at the District Government Attorney’s Office in Kathmandu.

The statement pertains to the alleged embezzlement of funds from the Swarnalakshmi Multipurpose Cooperative located in Kalimati.

The police have already taken a statement from former DIG Chhabilal Joshi regarding the embezzlement. Kumar Ramtel, who was in custody at the Kaski prison, has also been brought to Kathmandu for questioning. Ramtel, a resident of Okhaldhunga, is the treasurer of Swarnalakshmi Cooperative.

GB Rai is the chairperson of Swarnalakshmi Multipurpose Cooperative.

A total of 645 depositors have filed complaints with the police seeking an investigation into the alleged embezzlement.

Preliminary investigations by the police suggest that NPR 1.11 billion (approximately USD 8.3 million) has been embezzled from the cooperative.

Records indicate that the cooperative had deposits totaling NPR 2.66 billion (approximately USD 19.9 million) from 27,000 depositors.

Lamichhane was brought to Kathmandu from Kaski yesterday and is being held in custody at the District Police Range in Bhadrakali, Kathmandu.