Lamichhane Released on bail in Kaski

By Phadindra Adhikari in Pokhara,Purushottam Khatri in Kathmandu,Jan. 10: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President and former Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane has been released from the custody of Kaski District Police Office on bail. 

He was released after submitting a bank guarantee of bail amount of Rs. 6.5 million to the Kaski District Court on Thursday evening.

Lamichhane and six others were arrested for embezzling the fund of Suryadarshan Cooperative Limited of Pokhara Metropolitan City-4. 

The police have withdrawn plans to re-arrest him and hand over immediately to the Kathmandu District Police Office after his release from Kaski Police Office. Lamichhane was arrested by CIB, Lazimpath, on October 18, 2024. 

According to a police source, Lamichhane as per the court's order, will be himself present in the Kathmandu Police and directly face the court's hearing by staying outside the custody of Kathmandu Police as his statement recording had been already completed in Kathmandu and three other cases in Butwal, Chitwan and Parsa.

RSP Spokesperson Manish Jha said that President Lamichhane was released after depositing the bail amount. He was released on bank guarantee after the court ordered so, said Jha.  

Meanwhile, our Pokhara Correspondent stated that Judge Nitij Rai of the Court issued the decision Thursday evening that Lamichhane and six others be released on bail. 

According to court registrar Rajan Khanal, Lamichhane was ordered to deposit a bail amount of Rs 6.5 million for his release.

In the 13-page detention hearing order, the court has stated that while there is no reasonable basis to conclude at this time that Lamichhane is not guilty in the cooperative fraud case, an order has been issued to release him on bail, as further evidence will be gathered and assessed as determined by the ongoing investigation.

The accused in the case, facing charges of cooperative fraud, organised crime, and money laundering, include Lamichhane’s business partner and former DIG Chhabilal Joshi Banjade, GB Rai’s associate Lila Pachhai, Aarati Gurung, former provincial assembly member Meena Gurung, her father and former British Army officer Krishna Bahadur Gurung, and Nature Herb’s Ram Bahadur Khanal.

The court set bail amounts ranging from Rs. 100,000 for Krishna Bahadur Gurung to Rs 8.8 million for Chhabilal Joshi. 

Lila Pachhai was ordered to pay Rs 3.7 million, while Meena Gurung and Aarati Gurung Rs. 500,000 each and Ram Bahadur Khanal Rs. 1.5 million. 

The court ruled that the accused could be released upon deposting the respective amounts.

The Office of District Government Attorney has accused Lamichhane of defrauding Rs. 33.7 million, Joshi Rs. 52.6 million, and Dipesh Pun, son of former Vice President Nanda Kishor Pun, Rs. 21.4 million.

GB Rai, who is currently at large, faces accusations of embezzling Rs. 1.86 billion in money laundering charges. Additional claims include Rs. 743.4 million against Joshi, Rs. 278.9 million against Lamichhane, Rs. 246.7 million against Pachhai and Rs. 143 million against Khanal.

The government has also sought the confiscation of Lamichhane’s property, listing his wife, Nikita Poudel, as a co-defendant.

While the Suryadarshan Cooperative case has reached this stage, Lamichhane and Joshi face ongoing legal battles in other districts.

Cases related to Swarnalaxmi Cooperative in Kathmandu, Sahara Cooperative in Chitwan, Supreme Cooperative in Butwal, and Sanopaila Cooperative in Birgunj remain unresolved.