Police, court make conflicting statements on Rabi Lamichhane's arrest warrant

POKHARA, Sept 23: Multiple news media have published varied reports on whether an arrest warrant has been issued against Rabi Lamichhane for his alleged involvement in the co-operative fraud case, while the police and the court have provided conflicting opinions on the issuance of the warrant. After the arrest of Chhabilal Joshi, who was accused of misappropriating the funds of Pokhara-based Surya Darshan Savings and Credit Cooperative to Gorkha Media, it is rumored that Lamichhane is also slated to be arrested.

According to sources in the Kaski District Court, an arrest warrant against former Minister for Home Affairs Lamichhane was issued on Sunday. But it is not clear whether the warrant was ever sent to the police. "The arrest warrant had already been typed on Sunday,” the source told Republica, “The police might have detailed information about the matter.”

But the Kaski police claimed to be unaware about the warrant. Chief of the District Police Office (DPO), Kaski, Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohan Kumar Thapa claimed that an arrest warrant has not been issued against Lamichhane. "An arrest warrant has not been issued against Lamichhane,” SP Thapa informed Republica, “It is just a market rumor that the warrant was issued.”

Spokesperson for the DPO, Kaski, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Basanta Kumar Sharma claimed that he has not been permitted to reveal information about whether or not the arrest warrant was issued. "I cannot speak about the warrant,” he told Republica, “The opinion of the DPO has already been made public.”

On Sunday evening, the Kaski Police issued a statement stating that Chhabilal Joshi had been arrested and brought to Pokhara, adding that no arrest warrant had been issued against anyone else.