KATHMANDU, Dec 18: The Butwal bench of the Tulsipur High Court has ordered the release of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chairman and former Gorkha Media Managing Director Rabi Lamichhane on bail in connection with the Supreme Cooperative fraud and organised crime case.
Following the order, Lamichhane is set to fly to Bhairahawa on Friday to follow the due process of his release.
On Thursday, a division bench of Judges Basudev Acharya and Tejnarayan Paudel ruled that Lamichhane could be released on bail after submitting a bank guarantee covering the disputed funds and fulfilling other court-mandated conditions. However, procedural formalities and the closure of office hours delayed his release on Thursday.
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A certified copy of the High Court order must first reach the Rupandehi District Court for his release. Since the order was issued after office hours on Thursday, the district court will officially register it on Friday. Only after this registration will the court process the bank guarantee and surety amount submitted by Lamichhane.
Lamichhane’s aide confirmed that the district court will notify Nakkhu Prison and summon Lamichhane to complete the remaining formalities. He will be released after signing a written undertaking stating that he agrees to pay the disputed amount and any additional fines determined by the final verdict.
The High Court emphasized that the protection and recovery of depositors’ and investors’ funds was the primary basis for granting bail. The order noted, “Since safeguarding depositors’ and investors’ funds is the top priority, the bank guarantee submitted by the defendant is accepted under these conditions, allowing the case proceedings to continue.”
Lamichhane had earlier requested permission to proceed with the trial after submitting a bank guarantee covering his proportional liability for funds allegedly misappropriated from Supreme Cooperative during his tenure. The court approved this arrangement in accordance with Section 71 of the National Criminal Procedure Code, 2018.
The court order, however, does not pertain to the criminal offence of organised crime that Lamichhane is also facing in connection with the same case.
