The remand hearing for the defendants in the embezzlement case involving the savings of Surya Darshan Cooperative in Kaski is ongoing at the Kaski District Court. The hearing is being conducted before District Judge Nitij Rai, with seven defendants, including Rabi Lamichhane, Chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and former Home Minister, facing charges in the case.
According to court official Rajan Khanal, arguments by the defense lawyers representing Lamichhane concluded on Tuesday, and the hearing for other defendants commenced. On Monday and Tuesday, senior advocates Sushil Kumar Pant, Raman Kumar Shrestha, and Surendra Thapa, among others, argued on behalf of Lamichhane.
Previously, legal representatives for defendants Lila Pachhai and Chhabilal Joshi had presented their arguments. After arguments from government attorneys and lawyers representing cooperative victims, the defense lawyers began their pleadings. The remand hearing began on Poush 16 (December 31) after recording the defendants’ statements. Following the defense arguments, government prosecutors will present rebuttals.
After the remand hearing, the court will decide whether the defendants will be held in custody for further investigation or released while the investigation continues. The remand hearing involves Lamichhane and others accused of fraud in the cooperative case, including former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, Lila Pachhai, Krishna Bahadur Gurung, and Ram Bahadur Khanal. On Poush 7 (December 22), the District Government Attorney’s Office filed charges against 44 individuals, including RSP Chairperson Lamichhane, alleging embezzlement of cooperative funds.
Lamichhane faces additional charges of organized crime and money laundering in connection with the cooperative fraud. The District Government Attorney’s Office has filed cases against 63 individuals so far in the Surya Darshan Cooperative embezzlement case, with 19 of them, including Lamichhane, also charged with organized crime. Moreover, Lamichhane, Khanal, Joshi, and Pachhai have been charged with money laundering, according to the office.
