KATHMANDU, Nov 5: The Kaski District Court has extended the judicial custody of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman and former managing director of Gorkha Media, Rabi Lamichhane, by another 10 days. This is the third time the court has extended the judicial remand for Lamichhane who was arrested from the party's central office in Kathmandu on October 18.
According to the court's Information Officer Suraj Adhikari, a single bench of Judge Chandrakant Paudel gave the police 10 more days to keep Lamichhane in judicial custody and investigate him on the charges of asset laundering, organized crime, and cooperative funds embezzlement.
Along with Lamichhane, the court granted the police permission to keep a former board member of Gorkha Media, Chhabilal Joshi, in judicial custody for additional 10 days. In connection with the cooperative case, Joshi was arrested on September 22 and has been in judicial custody since then.
Jewelers sent to judicial custody for financial fraud
Earlier on Tuesday, police presented Lamichhane and Joshi at the Kaski District Court, seeking to extend their remand. The extension of Lamichhane’s remand for the second time expired during the Tihar festival. He was presented at the court on Tuesday after the end of the holidays.
The police requested the court to extend the remand period, citing the need to complete the necessary documentation and record further statements. Based on the investigation conducted by the police, it has been revealed that Lamichhane traveled to Malaysia last March to meet GB Rai, the absconding chairman of Gorkha Media, and police sources have reported unusual financial activities in Lamichhane's transactions.
Police are examining Lamichhane's bank accounts and all transactions, suspecting he may have transferred funds abroad. In the case of investigations into money laundering charges, police have the authority to detain the accused for up to 90 days.
Moreover, a supplementary complaint has been filed against him in Rupandehi, where an arrest warrant has been issued, indicating that he will also be taken to Butwal for further statements.
After the police presented Lamichhane at the court, RSP cadres protested and tried to enter a prohibited area. In response, the police fired tear gas canisters and arrested seven RSP members on the charge of breaching restricted area orders. Police personnel on duty also confiscated the keys to a vehicle that the RSP leaders were using to sloganeer against the government. As per police officials, the keys for the vehicle were confiscated for attempting to enter a prohibited area.
