BUTWAL, Nov 12: Beleaguered Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, who has been accused of misappropriating funds from the Butwal-based Supreme Cooperative through Gorkha Media, is being brought to Rupandehi today.
Lamichhane, who is in the custody of Kaski police, is being flown from Pokhara to Bhairahawa this morning.
Rupandehi police chief, Superintendent of Police Ranjit Singh Rathore, said that Lamichhane will be brought to Bhairahawa and his statement will be recorded today itself. He added that Lamichhane will be sent back to Pokhara as soon as the statement is completed.
The judicial custody of Lamichhane, who was arrested on the charge of cooperative fraud on October 18, was extended by 13 days by the Kaski District Court on Sunday. He is being investigated in Kaski for cases related to cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering.
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A case has been filed at the Rupandehi District court, accusing GB Rai, Chhabilal Joshi, and Lamichhane of embezzling Rs 142.9 million of the Butwal-based Supreme Cooperative through Gorkha Media.
Previous investigation reports have revealed that a loan of Rs 19.6 million was taken in the name of Lamichhane from Supreme Cooperative. He is being brought to Rupandehi for investigation related to this case. Lamichhane is a former managing director of Gorkha Media.
Former DIG and then vice chairman of Gorkha Media, Chhabilal Joshi, who was previously in the custody of Kaski police, was also taken to the District Government Attorney Office, Rupandehi, for a statement and then sent back to Kaski.
In the Supreme Cooperative fraud case, the Rupandehi District Court had issued arrest warrants on October 24 against Lamichhane, former DIG Joshi, and 12 others for investigation into organized crime.
The court issued arrest warrants against people including Deepak Lama, Anantababu Rai, Shri Ballabh Nepal, Bishal Tamang, Rabina Rimal, Bhagwati Bamjan, Bigyan Rai, Naresh GC, and Shiva Bahadur Gurung. They are shareholders, executive committee members, and authorized signatories of Gorkha Media Network.
In April last year, a case was filed through the District Government Attorney's Office in Rupandehi against 28 individuals, including Supreme Cooperative's Founding Chairman Gitendra Babu (GB) Rai, Chairman Omprakash Gurung, Manager Sagar KC, and Secretary Dipesh Pun. Seven of them have been arrested. Among those arrested, Chairman Gurung has been sent to jail for further proceedings. Secretary Dipesh Pun and six others have been released on bail. GB Rai, Sagar KC, and 19 others have not been arrested yet.
Police initiated an investigation after 1,831 people filed complaints, alleging that more than Rs 861.8 million of the Rs 1.07 billion from 10,391 depositors of Supreme Cooperative had been misappropriated.
Meanwhile, the RSP is set to stage a protest in Bhairahawa today. The party has prepared for the demonstration after hearing the news that RSP Chairman Lamichhane will be brought to Bhairahawa for recording his statement.
The RSP has stated that the protests will begin in Bhairahawa at 11 am today.
