KATHMANDU: A complaint has been filed with the Judicial Council against District Court Judge Nitij Rai of Kaski, who released Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane on bail in a case involving cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering.
The complaint, filed by Yubaraj Safal from Sindhuli, criticizes the judge’s decision to grant bail of Rs 6.5 million despite substantial evidence suggesting Lamichhane should be sent to prison.
The complaint argues that the judge’s order to release Lamichhane and six other defendants on bail came as a shock to the victims of the cooperative fraud and justice-seeking citizens.
It states that Judge Rai effectively cleared the defendants, including Lamichhane and Chhabilal Joshi, by not addressing their guilt in the ruling.
The complaint also highlights the serious charges against the defendants, including organized crime and money laundering, and contends that releasing them on bail for a sum significantly lower than the amount demanded is unjustifiable both legally and practically.
Furthermore, Safal pointed out the inconsistency in the court’s decisions, noting that other accused individuals in similar cases, such as the Suryadarshan Cooperative case, were sent to jail for pre-trial detention.
Safal believes the decision to release Lamichhane and others on a relatively low bail contradicts previous rulings and undermines legal precedents and practices.
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