KATHMANDU: The Chitwan Police are preparing to file another fraud case against Rabi Lamichhane, chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, in connection with the misappropriation of funds from Sahara Chitwan Multipurpose Cooperative.
The police have submitted a supplementary report implicating Lamichhane, 31 individuals, and 7 companies in the misuse of the cooperative’s savings, to the Office of the District Government Attorney.
Earlier investigations revealed that funds totaling Rs 431.4 million were illegally invested in various companies. The breakdown includes: Rs 108 million in Gorkha Media Network Pvt. Ltd., Rs 97.3 million in Nature Herbs International Pvt. Ltd., Rs 92.7 million in GB Group of Companies, Rs 68.1 million in Spring Wood Real Estate and Rs 65.1 million in Nature Nest Pvt. Ltd.
The Sahara Chitwan Cooperative has 6,334 depositors with a total savings of Rs 523.2 million. Its total liabilities amount to Rs 651.6 million, while loans worth Rs 562.2 million remain unrecovered, according to the investigation report.
The police have recommended legal action under the Penal Code 2074 and the Organized Crime Prevention Act 2070. The District Government Attorney’s Office will review the report and proceed with further legal actions.
Lamichhane, previously accused in other cooperative fraud cases, was released on bail after depositing Rs 6.5 million in the Suryadarshan Cooperative case in Pokhara and Rs 6 million in the Swarnalaxmi Cooperative case in Kathmandu.
He faces charges of fraud, organized crime, and money laundering. Both the Kaski and Kathmandu District Courts, during preliminary hearings, ruled that Lamichhane had not yet proven his innocence, thus requiring bail.
Lamichhane and others have been accused of embezzling funds from multiple cooperatives, including Sahara in Chitwan, Suryadarshan in Kaski, Swarnalaxmi in Kathmandu, Supreme in Rupandehi, and Sanopaila in Parsa.
The main operator of these cooperatives, GB Rai, is currently absconding, while his partners, including Chhabilal Joshi, Rabi Lamichhane, and Kumar Ramtel, are under scrutiny. Kumar Ramtel is presently serving time in Kaski Jail. Nature Herbs was a joint venture of GB Rai and Chhabilal Joshi.
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