Lamichhane sent to judicial custody

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 13: President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rabi Lamichhane, has been sent to judicial custody of the Kathmandu Police Range, Bhadrakali.

Although Lamichhane presented himself to the Kathmandu District Court Sunday morning to furnish his statement in relation to Swarnalaxmi Multipurpose Cooperative scam, District Judge Madhav Prasad Adhikari ordered him to be sent to custody after a detention hearing could not take place on Sunday afternoon, according to Court’s Registrar Ramu Sharma. 

The bench of Judge Adhikari ordered Lamichhane to be handed over to police custody of the Kathmandu Police Range.

The head of the Kathmandu District Government Attorney's Office, Ramhari Sharma Kafle, and District Attorney Khadindra Raj Katwal had reached the bench to advocate 

against Lamichhane.

A case was filed against Lamichhane and 38 others, alleging the misuse of savings from the Swarnalaxmi Cooperative located in Kalimati, Kathmandu. 

The District Government Attorney, Kathmandu, had lodged the case against Lamichhane and 38 others demanding for recovery of Rs. 1.19 billion from them for the misuse of the funds of the cooperative. 

On Monday, Lamichhane will be presented before the court by the police itself. Although his statement was recorded on Sunday, the detention hearing was postponed after the government lawyers requested for more time.

Lamichhane had requested to be placed under his family’s responsibility, as he voluntarily appeared before the court. His lawyers also pleaded that he be released to his family or legal representatives.

However, the judge ordered that he be handed over to police custody. Following the order, Lamichhane stated, “I duly accept the order of the respected judge.” Two individuals accused in the Swarnalaxmi Cooperative scam had already been released on bail. Among the main accused, GB Rai is still at large, while another accused, Kumar Ramtel, is in the Kaski prison. 

Previously, in another case involving Suryadarshan Cooperative in Pokhara, the Kaski District Court had ordered Lamichhane’s release on bail of Rs 6.5 million.