Kathmandu, January 26
The District Court in Rupandehi has ordered the release of Rabi Lamichhane on bail of Rs 10 million in a cooperative fraud case.
Lamichhane is accused of being involved in irregularities concerning the funds deposited by savers in the Butwal-based Supreme Cooperative. Judge Pralhad Kumar Yogi issued the bail order following a detention hearing.
During the hearing, government attorneys argued that allowing Lamichhane to remain free would affect the victims’ chances of obtaining justice and demanded that he be sent to custody. On the other hand, Lamichhane’s defense lawyers claimed that the state was acting out of vengeance.
Previously, the Kaski District Court had ordered Lamichhane’s release on bail of Rs 6.5 million in connection with the Surya Darshan Cooperative case in Pokhara, and the Kathmandu District Court had released him on Rs 6 million bail in the Kalimati-based Swarna Laxmi Cooperative case.
The case filed against Lamichhane in Rupandehi District Court is based on investigations conducted by the Area Police Office, Butwal.
The government attorneys cited several pieces of evidence in their chargesheet, including bounced checks signed by Lamichhane, payments made to his wife Nikita Paudel, and fraudulent company ownership transfers, to establish his involvement in the cooperative fraud.
