Rabi Lamichhane Faces New Charges in Supreme Cooperative Fraud Case in Rupandehi

January 19, 2025
Rabi Lamichhane Faces New Charges in Supreme Cooperative Fraud Case in Rupandehi

Rabi Lamichhane, Chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and former Home Minister, along with former DIG Chhabilal Banjade Joshi, who were released on bail by the Kaski and Kathmandu District Courts, are set to face charges in Rupandehi today over allegations of embezzlement in the Supreme Cooperative.

District Public Prosecutor Premraj Paudel stated that preparations are underway to file the case today. According to him, supplementary charges against Lamichhane and other defendants will be submitted to the court.

It has been reported that claims exceeding NPR 40 million will be filed against Rabi Lamichhane and Chhabilal Joshi under accusations of cooperative fraud and organized crime.

Meanwhile, Rabi Lamichhane is scheduled to appear in the Rupandehi District Court on Monday for a remand hearing and statement recording. Advocate Yagyamani Neupane, coordinating Lamichhane’s legal defense, informed Nepal Press that he would be arriving in Rupandehi tomorrow. Lamichhane will be accompanied by legal representatives, whose final list is expected to be decided by this evening, Neupane added.

On Thursday, additional charges were filed against 17 individuals at the Rupandehi District Court in connection with the Supreme Cooperative fraud. Although charges had previously been filed against 28 individuals, supplementary charges with increased claims and offenses have now been lodged against 17 of them.

Earlier, Lamichhane and Joshi were also accused in the Suryadarshan Cooperative fraud case in Pokhara, facing charges of cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering. Lamichhane was released on bail of NPR 6.5 million, while Joshi was released on NPR 8.8 million.

Following his release, Lamichhane appeared at the Kathmandu District Court and completed the remand hearing process. However, Joshi is yet to appear in court. The Kaski police had released them on the condition that they would appear at the Kathmandu Police or Court as required.

In Kathmandu, Lamichhane was released on bail of NPR 6 million in the Swarnalakshmi Cooperative fraud case. He deposited the bail amount and was released from custody on Thursday. Further cases against both Lamichhane and Joshi are being prepared in connection with the Sahara Chitwan and Sanopaaila Cooperative incidents in Chitwan and Parsa, respectively. The police investigations in these districts are in the final stages.

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