KATHMANDU: Rabi Lamichhane, chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who is currently in judicial custody at Bhairahawa prison in Rupandehi on cooperative fraud charges, is set to be transferred to Kathmandu by air.
According to police sources, Lamichhane will be flown to Kathmandu on a Buddha Air flight scheduled to depart from Bhairahawa airport at 3:10 p.m.
Two months ago, Lamichhane had filed an application requesting a transfer to Nakkhu Prison for ease of legal proceedings. While the court had granted permission, the Ministry of Home Affairs had not acted on his request at the time.
Kalpana Ghimire Nepal, director of the Department of Prison Management, confirmed that the transfer decision was made on the basis of Lamichhane’s petition submitted to the department on Friday.
Lamichhane has been in custody at Rupandehi prison since April 7 following an order from the Butwal High Court in connection with fraud allegations related to the Supreme Savings and Credit Cooperative.
The RSP has claimed that Lamichhane is being targeted out of political vengeance and has been conducting a signature campaign in his support. With his transfer approved, RSP supporters are expected to gather outside Nakkhu Prison to welcome him.
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