POKHARA: It has been 60 days since Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane was arrested.
On Tuesday, he was presented at the Kaski District Court for the eighth time, while his associate, former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, appeared for the ninth time.
Lamichhane, arrested on October 18 from RSP’s central office in Banasthali, faces allegations related to embezzlement of cooperative savings across five districts.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the court extended the remand for four more days for Lamichhane, Joshi, and three others, including Krishna Bahadur Gurung, who remains in hospital custody.
The court has directed the District Government Attorney’s Office to file the case within the legal 90-day limit, which ends this Sunday for Joshi.
Under organized crime laws, suspects cannot be held for more than 90 days without charges.
Charges and progress
Kaski police have recommended that charges be filed against 51 individuals, including Lamichhane, Joshi, and others, on accusations of organized crime, cooperative fraud, and money laundering.
The total embezzled amount is reported to be 1.51 billion rupees.
During the hearing, prosecutors argued for extending custody, citing the need to analyze a 600-page investigation report submitted by police on Monday.
They emphasized that suspects could abscond if released.
Lamichhane’s legal team countered that the investigation was complete, police statements were recorded, and further detention violated criminal justice principles. “Keeping the accused in custody when the report has been submitted is unjust,” they argued, urging the court to release Lamichhane on bail.
Rabi’s concerns over media trial
Outside the courtroom, Lamichhane expressed grievances about a media trial being conducted against him.
He alleged that false information about his and his wife’s property was being circulated in the media.
“News outlets are claiming I own assets worth millions, which I am not even aware of,” Lamichhane said, requesting the court to stop such reporting until the legal process concludes.
Pramod Neupane, Rabi Lamichhane’s press advisor, said, “Rabi Lamichhane stated that a media trial was being conducted against him. He said, ‘False news is being spread under the guise of investigation. There are reports claiming that my wife and I own properties worth millions, which even I am unaware of. I request that such media trials be stopped during the investigation and prosecution phase.’”
In response, Judge Himalal Belbase briefly stated, “We will see.”
Though the judge issued no formal order, he reportedly instructed police to monitor and control misinformation.
Next steps
With the legal deadline approaching, the District Government Attorney’s Office must file the case by Sunday.
If the charges are filed, Lamichhane and Joshi could be required to appear in the courts of the five districts where the cooperatives were based: Pokhara’s Suryadarshan, Chitwan’s Sahara, Butwal’s Supreme, Parsa’s Hamro Sanopaila, and Kathmandu’s Swarnalaxmi cooperatives.
Rabi Lamichhane has denied any involvement in the cooperative savings embezzlement at all five district attorney offices. He argued, “I am not even a member of those cooperatives, so the question of embezzlement does not arise.”
The Parliamentary Probe Committee, which flagged illegal investments made during Lamichhane’s tenure as Managing Director of Galaxy Television, recommended legal action, holding executives accountable for the misused funds.
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