Rabi and all seven detainees to be released on bail; what are the bail amounts?

POKHARA: The Kaski District Court has ordered the release of all seven accused, including Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane, on bail in connection with the Suryadarshan Cooperative fraud case.

After a week-long detention hearing, Judge Nitij Rai issued the decision Thursday evening. According to court registrar Rajan Khanal, Lamichhane was ordered to post a bail amount of Rs 6.5 million for his release.

The accused in the case, facing charges of cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering, include Lamichhane’s business partner and former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, GB Rai’s associate Leela Pachhai, Aarti Gurung, former provincial assembly member Meena Gurung, her father and former British Army officer Krishna Bahadur Gurung, and Nature Herbo’s Ram Bahadur Khanal.

The court set bail amounts ranging from Rs 100,000 for Krishna Bahadur Gurung to Rs 8.8 million for Chhabilal Joshi. Lamichhane’s bail was set at Rs 6.5 million, while Leela Pachhai was ordered to pay Rs 3.7 million. Meena Gurung and Aarti Gurung were both assigned Rs 500,000, and Ram Bahadur Khanal was set at Rs 1.5 million. The court ruled that the accused could be released upon posting the respective amounts.

The Office of District Government Attorney has accused Lamichhane of defrauding Rs 33.7 million, Joshi of Rs 52.6 million, and Dipesh Pun, son of former Vice President Nanda Kishor Pun, of Rs 21.4 million.

GB Rai, who is currently absconding, faces accusations of embezzling Rs 1.86 billion in money laundering charges.

Additional claims include Rs 743.4 million against Joshi, Rs 278.9 million against Lamichhane, Rs 246.7 million against Pachhai, and Rs 143 million against Khanal.

The government has also sought the confiscation of Lamichhane’s property, listing his wife, Nikita Poudel, as a co-defendant.

While the Suryadarshan Cooperative case has reached this stage, Lamichhane and Joshi face ongoing legal battles in other districts.

Cases related to Swarnalaxmi Cooperative in Kathmandu, Sahara Cooperative in Chitwan, Supreme Cooperative in Butwal, and Sanopaila Cooperative in Birgunj remain unresolved.