Rabi Lamichhane Remanded in Custody for Six Days

Rabi Lamichhane was arrested on Friday evening in connection with a case involving alleged cooperative fund fraud and organised crime.

Rabi Lamichhane Remanded in Custody for Six Days

Kathmandu. Rabi Lamichhane, the leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, will remain in police custody for six more days. The District Court of Kaski granted police permission on Sunday after a hearing led by Judge Navaraj Dahal.

Court information officer Suraj Adhikari confirmed the decision, which allows Lamichhane to be detained for six days starting from Sunday. The police had requested the same period for further investigation.

Senior advocates Sushil Pant and Dr Narayan Ghimire, representing Lamichhane, argued that there was no need for him to remain in custody. However, the court ruled in favour of the police.

Lamichhane was arrested on Friday evening in connection with a case involving alleged cooperative fund fraud and organised crime. He was brought to the court on Saturday morning and again on Sunday afternoon.

The Parliamentary Special Investigation Committee's report has implicated Gorkha Media Network, which Lamichhane manages, in the misuse of cooperative funds. The committee found that Gorkha Media was involved in the misappropriation of over NPR 655 million from five cooperatives.

One of Gorkha Media's directors, former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, was arrested earlier in Kathmandu. Gorkha Media is co-owned by Lamichhane, Chhabilal Joshi, Gitendra Babu Rai (GB), and Kumar Ramtel. Ramtel, who also served as treasurer for one of the cooperatives, was arrested last year and remains in custody at Kaski prison.

The government has directed police to act on the investigation report, leading to the current arrests and further legal proceedings.