KATHMANDU: Former DIG Chhabi Lal Joshi accused Gorkha Media Chairperson Gitendra Babu Rai (GB) and Managing Director Rabi Lamichhane of forging signatures through board minutes to misappropriate funds in the Swarnalakshmi Cooperative embezzlement case.
The District Government Attorney’s Office registered the case at the Kathmandu District Court on Sunday, where Joshi alleged that Rabi and GB forged his signatures on meeting minutes to advance decisions while he was in the U.S.
Joshi disclosed that his refusal to invest further or mortgage his property for Gorkha Media strained relations. He claimed that even after transferring his shares and distancing himself, GB and Ravi misused his name to facilitate financial decisions.
In his statement, Joshi said, “While I was abroad, Rabi and GB forged my signature on October 20, 2020, to amend the company’s management policies and objectives without my consent. Upon discovering their intentions, I ceased working with them.”
Joshi further alleged that despite relinquishing his shares, he became aware of cooperative loans in his name only after reviewing the ledgers.
He accused GB of using multiple client codes to deposit cooperative funds into Gorkha Media accounts, including amounts of 34.2 million rupees, 11.8 million rupees, 15 million rupees, and smaller sums.
He stated, “These funds were illegally transferred to Gorkha Media by GB and Rabi. I was unaware of these transactions, and only they had knowledge of the financial dealings.”
Joshi also noted that 9.3 million rupees was deposited into the cooperative account via checks bearing signatures of both GB and Rabi.
The case highlights serious allegations of forgery and financial misconduct by GB and Rabi in managing cooperative funds.
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