The Supreme Court of Nepal has officially started the hearing on the habeas corpus petition filed by Rabi Lamichhane, the president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and former Home Minister.
Lamichhane was earlier sent to jail under judicial custody by the High Court Butwal in connection with the Supreme Cooperative fraud case. Before that, the Rupandehi District Court had released him on bail. Challenging the High Court’s decision, Lamichhane moved to the Supreme Court seeking his release.
The case is now being heard by the joint bench of Justices Nahakul Subedi and Bal Krishna Dhakal. Several previous hearing dates were scheduled, but the case couldn’t proceed due to technical reasons. Now, the court has finally begun reviewing the petition.
The same bench is also hearing a related case filed by former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, who is also in custody for the same cooperative scam.
This case has drawn national attention as it involves top-level figures accused of being connected to one of Nepal’s most discussed financial fraud cases in recent years.
