Gandaki, October 21
The Kaski District Court has granted six days to the District Police Office, Kaski, to keep Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane in judicial custody to investigate allegations of organised crime and misappropriation of funds from Pokhara’s Suryadarshan Savings and Credit Cooperatives Limited.
A single bench of Kaski District Judge Nabaraj Dahal allowed the police six days for investigation purposes, according to Information Officer of the Kaski District Court, Suraj Adhikai. On Sunday, Lamichhane was presented before the court to seek permission for an extension of his custody term for further investigations. He was arrested in Kathmandu on Friday and taken to Pokhara that same night.
In court, government attorney Kamala Kafle represented the government, while advocates Sushil Panta and Dr. Narayan Ghimire defended Lamichhane. RSP leaders, lawmakers, and supporters protested as the RSP president was taken to court.
Tensions erupted at Sahid Chowk in Pokhara after RSP cadres attempted to breach a prohibitory order announced by the administration. The prohibitory order had been enforced at Sahid Chowk and Gairapatan in Pokhara that morning in anticipation of Lamichhane’s court appearance. As RSP supporters attempted to enter the restricted areas, police deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd.
The District Police Office, Kaski, is conducting an investigation into Lamichhane for allegedly siphoning off the savings of the Pokhara-based cooperatives to Gorkha Media Network in collusion with GB Rai.
