KATHMANDU: President of the Nepali Congress, Gagan Kumar Thapa, on Thursday made public what he claimed to be evidence showing the direct involvement of Rabi Lamichhane, chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, in the misappropriation of savings from cooperatives in five districts.
Speaking at an open question–answer session held in Kathmandu, Thapa presented copies of court documents and cheques, claiming they substantiate Lamichhane’s involvement in the alleged embezzlement of millions of rupees from various cooperatives during his tenure as Managing Director of Gorkha Media Network and as a former Home Minister.
Responding to queries regarding Lamichhane’s alleged role, Thapa said he had come prepared with documentary proof. “Many friends ask in the comments, where is the evidence? I am here today with evidence,” he said. “These are not accusations I fabricated. They are based on verdicts of a division bench of the Supreme Court and facts presented before various district courts.”
Thapa referred to case records from Chitwan and Rupandehi courts, stating that loans amounting to millions of rupees were issued in Lamichhane’s name despite him not being a member of the concerned cooperatives.
He further claimed that while associated with Gorkha Media Network as an investor and employee alongside GB Rai, Lamichhane repeatedly signed cheques to spend funds allegedly brought illegally from different cooperatives.
“According to the records of the Chitwan District Court, Rs 117 million from Sahara Cooperative was transferred to Gorkha Media in the name of Rabi Lamichhane,” Thapa said. “A total of 414 cheques bearing his signature have been found in the process of spending cooperative funds at Gorkha Media.”
Similarly, Thapa alleged that Rs 20 million was taken without collateral from Supreme Cooperative in Butwal, Rupandehi, in Lamichhane’s personal name.
He also suggested reviewing the relevant sections of the verdict published on the Supreme Court’s website, claiming that Lamichhane had participated in board decisions, including signing to open bank accounts, even before officially becoming Managing Director of Gorkha Media Network.
Thapa said all the documents are publicly available at the court and parliamentary investigation committee, adding that the related case documents remain accessible on the Supreme Court’s official website.
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