KATHMANDU, Jan 28: The Attorney General’s (AG) January 14 decision to withdraw cases against Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane has sparked strong criticism in the National Assembly and among activists, raising concerns over Nepal’s judicial integrity and international reputation.
During Tuesday’s session, CPN UML lawmaker Gopal Bhattarai questioned the AG’s move to drop charges related to money laundering and organized crime against Lamichhane—a decision now under review at district courts in Kathmandu, Kaski, Rupandehi, Parsa, and Chitwan. Lawmakers warned that allowing the AG to amend chargesheets could create judicial disorder, undermine fair justice, and damage Nepal’s standing abroad, especially as the country remains on the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list for money-laundering oversight.
Activist Yuvraj Safal arrested for criticizing Rabi Lamichhane...
“The country is currently on the grey list. If state mechanisms undermine cases related to organized crime and money laundering, who can prevent us from landing on the black list?” Bhattarai said, highlighting the risk of heightened international scrutiny. He added that dismissing cases without judicial review could leave Nepal vulnerable to external interference, despite the country’s commitments under international anti-money laundering agreements.
Meanwhile, activist Yubaraj Sapkota, popularly known as Yubaraj Safal, was arrested for publicly criticizing the AG’s decision. Police said he made “false statements and abusive remarks” about Attorney General Sabita Bhandari on social media, prompting legal action. Sapkota was presented in Kathmandu District Court on Tuesday, where the court approved a three-day custody for further investigation.
Lamichhane, along with 43 others, had faced charges related to money laundering and organized crime in connection with alleged cooperative fraud linked to Gorkha Media. The AG later extended relief to at least 50 other defendants, including high-profile fugitive Gitendra Babu Rai, against whom Interpol has issued a Red Notice.
Sapkota and other petitioners—including senior advocates Dinesh Tripathi and Ayush Badal—challenged the AG’s decision in court, arguing that criminal cases cannot be withdrawn without evidence of innocence. They contended that the action undermines the rule of law, risks judicial disorder, and could politicize criminal cases, promoting impunity. The Nepal Bar Association has also criticized the move, warning that selective withdrawal of cases threatens judicial independence and weakens the criminal justice system.
On January 26, the Supreme Court ordered the Office of the Attorney General to submit additional evidence and documents reportedly surfaced in cases related to Lamichhane, signaling continued judicial scrutiny.
