Gandaki, 8 January: The custody hearing of the defendants in the Surya Darshan Cooperative savings embezzlement case in Kaski is continuing at the Kaski District Court. The custody hearing of seven defendants, including the president of the National Independent Party and former Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, is being held in the bench of District Judge Nitij Rai.
After the arguments of the legal practitioners on Lamichhane’s side concluded on Tuesday, the arguments of the other defendants began, informed the court’s Shrestedar Rajan Khanal. On Monday and Tuesday, the arguments were held by senior advocates Sushil Kumar Panta, Raman Kumar Shrestha, Surendra Thapa and others on Lamichhane’s side.
Earlier, legal practitioners on behalf of the defendants Leela Pachain and Chhabilal Joshi had argued. After the government attorney and the legal practitioners on behalf of the victim, Jaherwala Cooperative, argued on the case, the legal practitioners on behalf of the defendants are now arguing. The closed arguments began on December 16, immediately after the defendants’ statements. It is said that after the arguments of the legal practitioners on behalf of the defendants are over, the rebuttal arguments will begin again on behalf of the government attorney.
After the detention hearing, an order will be issued to keep the defendants in custody for trial or to release them for further investigation. Lamichhane and former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, Leela Pachai, Krishna Bahadur Gurung, Ram Bahadur Khanal, and others involved in the cooperative fraud case are being held in detention. On Poush 20, the District Attorney’s Office had filed a case against 44 people, including Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) President Lamichhane, on charges of embezzling cooperative funds.
A case has been filed against Chairman Lamichhane for fraud, organized crime and money laundering. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has so far filed a case against 63 people in the District Court, Kaski, in connection with the fraud of Surya Darshan Cooperative. The District Prosecutor’s Office has stated that a case has been filed against 19 people, including Chairman Lamichhane, for organized crime. Similarly, a case has been filed against Khanal, Joshi and Pachai for money laundering along with Lamichhane, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has stated.
How cases filed of misappropriation of funds of Cooperatives to Rabi Lamichhane
Rabi Lamichhane, chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal, is currently facing multiple legal cases concerning the misappropriation of cooperative funds. Notably, a case has been filed against him and 38 others in the Kathmandu District Court, alleging the embezzlement of NPR 1.199 billion from the Swarnalaxmi Multipurpose Cooperative.
Additionally, a parliamentary special probe committee has implicated Lamichhane in the misuse of funds from various cooperatives, recommending legal action against him and others involved.
Furthermore, the District Attorney’s Office in Kaski has filed supplementary charges against Lamichhane, encompassing cooperative fund misappropriation, money laundering, and organized crime.
These cases are part of a broader investigation into cooperative fraud in Nepal, which has led to the arrest of over 600 individuals prior to Lamichhane’s apprehension.
As of now, Lamichhane is under investigation for his alleged involvement in these financial irregularities.
