Cases filed against four persons including former Home Minister Lamichhane

Gandaki, Dec 22: Cases have been filed at the District Court Kaski against four individuals, including Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman and former Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, who have been implicated in the Pokhara-based Surya Darshan Cooperatives fraud scam. The cases are on the charge of money laundering.     

Assistant District Attorney at the District Government Attorney Office, Shanti Devi Sharma, said that along with Lamicchane, cases on money laundering have been filed today against Ram Bahadur Khanal, Chhabilal Joshi and Lila Pachhai.     

According to Sharma, a case has been filed against Lamichhane, claiming that he misappropriated Rs 278 million 944 thousand 700. Similarly, a case has been filed against Joshi, claiming that he misappropriated Rs 743 million 471 thousand.     

Assistant District Attorney Sharma said that charge sheets have been filed against other persons also, making claims of the misappropriated amount and punishment for the same.     

Cases have been filed against 19 persons including Lamichhane on the charge of organized crime and against 31 individuals including Lamichhane on the charge of cooperatives fraud. The Government Attorney's Office said that cases have been registered at the District Court Kaski against 63 people so far on the charge of cooperative fraud.     

Information Officer at the District Court, Suraj Adhikari, informed that charge sheets have been filed against various persons including the RSP Chair Lamichhane on the charge of cooperative fraud, organized crime and money laundering, and calling for penalizing them.     

Lamichhane is accused of embezzlement of the funds of Pokhara-based Surya Darshan Savings and Cooperatives Limited and he remains in police custody since October 18. He was apprehended from Kathmandu and was escorted to Kaski. He is being investigated for accusations of misuse of cooperative funds in other districts as well. (RSS)