Pokhara, October 24
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rabi Lamichhane, remains in custody as the Kaski District Court’s first remand period comes to an end today. Lamichhane was arrested last Friday in Kathmandu and brought to Pokhara later that night. On Sunday, he was presented in court, where a six-day remand was granted for further investigation into allegations of financial misconduct.
Lamichhane has been accused of embezzling funds from Suryadarshan Savings Cooperative through Gorkha Media. Authorities have charged him with cooperative fraud and organised crime. As the initial remand period expires, the police are expected to request an extension to continue their investigation.
Chhabilal Joshi, a former DIG and ex-director of Gorkha Media Pvt. Ltd., was also arrested in connection with the case on September 22 and brought to Pokhara after being questioned in Rupandehi. Lamichhane and former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, have been presented at the Kaski District Court. According to police sources, they were brought to court as soon as it opened to avoid potential disruptions from protests and crowds.
Political retaliation claims intensify
The RSP has accused the government of using political retaliation to arrest Lamichhane. At a press conference held this morning in Pokhara, RSP Vice Chairperson Swarnim Wagle criticised the manner in which Lamichhane was detained, noting that despite being in custody for 125 hours, he was only questioned for 4-5 hours.
“The government’s actions seem aimed at humiliating and punishing him as if they’re determined to ‘bring him down’ and ‘teach him a lesson,’” Wagle stated. “This is nothing short of political vengeance.”
Lamichhane, who is currently being held at the upper level of the Kaski Police Detention Center, has reportedly expressed his fear of a prolonged detention or potential imprisonment. He conveyed to visiting RSP leaders that the police have been extending his remand and questioning him on matters he has already addressed. Sources claim that only two or three questions have been posed to him during each interrogation, all of which were previously answered.
“He believes he won’t be released this time,” a senior officer said, noting that Lamichhane has displayed considerable anxiety and suspicion during both police and prosecutor interviews.
The case against Lamichhane
Lamichhane has been charged with embezzling Rs 5.5 million from the Suryadarshan Cooperative through Gorkha Media. A report claims he took Rs 10 million from Suryadarshan and funnelled it into Gorkha Media. The media group, led by Gitendra Babu Rai (GB Rai), has been accused of misappropriating more than Rs 650 million from various cooperatives across Nepal, according to a parliamentary investigation committee report. The committee recommended legal action against Lamichhane, Joshi, and Kumar Ramtel, the treasurer of Suryadarshan Cooperative.
While Lamichhane’s direct involvement in misusing the cooperative’s funds is not clear, the prosecutor’s office has argued that his involvement with Gorkha Media links him to the organised embezzlement. They have filed charges against him in court, and Lamichhane has revealed that his remand is being extended without any substantial new investigations.
Plans to transfer Lamichhane to Rupandehi
Police sources suggest that Lamichhane might be transferred to Rupandehi for further questioning. Joshi, who was arrested on September 22, was brought to Pokhara after being interrogated about the Supreme Cooperative fraud case in Rupandehi. The police plan to extend Lamichhane’s remand in Pokhara and then send him to Rupandehi for further questioning.
On Tuesday, Lamichhane was interrogated at the prosecutor’s office, and on Wednesday, additional questioning took place at the Kaski District Police Office. However, RSP spokesperson and Assistant General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti stated that authorities have been deliberately delaying the investigation by calling Lamichhane for questioning without any preparation.
“Despite holding him for six days, they haven’t questioned him for even six hours. They haven’t asked any meaningful questions or gathered relevant documents. They seem determined to detain him, treating him like a criminal fleeing the scene,” Burlakoti remarked. “No meaningful questions have been raised about the allegations against him.”
Burlakoti also mentioned that Kaski police went to Kathmandu to take statements regarding supplementary complaints filed against Lamichhane. However, according to him, the questions posed to Lamichhane this week are the same as those asked previously. He emphasised that even the police officers involved in the investigation have expressed doubts about the validity of the charges, suggesting that Lamichhane’s detention is politically motivated.
Protests continue amidst political accusations
RSP has continued to hold peaceful protests against Lamichhane’s arrest, claiming it is politically motivated. Vice Chairman DP Aryal noted that the party had been conducting peaceful demonstrations, including one planned for Thursday at Wye Chowk in Pokhara. He mentioned that the party has also warned the police about potential infiltrators who might incite unrest during their peaceful protests.
Under GB Rai’s leadership, Gorkha Media and other cooperatives have allegedly caused financial losses to the public amounting to Rs 87 billion. Victims of the cooperative fraud expressed frustration that Lamichhane, during his tenure as Home Minister, failed to take action against the fraudsters despite repeated assurances. Now, with his arrest, many victims are hopeful that justice will finally be served.
The first report submitted by Pokhara Metropolitan City revealed that Lamichhane was involved in the embezzlement, which led to supplementary complaints and further investigations. On April 9, 2024, Pokhara’s Mayor Dhanraj Acharya submitted a detailed report on the cooperative fraud, which led to Lamichhane’s arrest. The report included over 3,419 pages of evidence.
The police investigation revealed that as of September 7, 2023, Rs 1.35 billion was held in 18,700 savings accounts in the Suryadarshan Cooperative’s computer system. While the total embezzled amount was reported as Rs 1.35 billion, the prosecutor’s office has only filed a claim for Rs 1.13 billion to be recovered for the complainants, along with a demand for 8 to 10 years of imprisonment for those involved in the case.
As Lamichhane awaits the next steps in his legal battle, the political and legal ramifications of the case continue to unfold.
