Supreme Cooperative Fraud: Police submit investigation report

LUMBINI: Police have submitted their investigation report on the Supreme Savings and Credit Cooperative’s deposit misappropriation case to the Rupandehi District Government Attorney’s Office (DGAO).

The Area Police Office, Butwal, has named 42 defendants, including Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane, in the case.

DSP Bijay Pandit of the Area Police Office, Butwal, told Himal Press that they submitted a supplementary investigation report to the Rupandehi DGAO on Thursday.

The police have added 14 new defendants in the supplementary investigation report.

Along with Lamichhane, who also served as the managing director of Gorkha Media Network, police have recommended filing charge sheets against former DIG Chabilal Joshi who served as the director of Gorkha Media Network and other office-bearers of the cooperative.

A team of the Rupandehi DGAO, led by District Government Attorney Prem Raj Paudel, will review the investigation report before proceeding with the case.

The police have recommended charges claiming misuse of Rs 41.5 million against Lamichhane and Rs 42.7 million against former DIG Joshi.
Lamichhane was released on a bail of Rs 6.5 million at the Kaski District Court in a separate case involving Surydarshan Cooperative fraud, organized crime and money laundering charges.

An arrest warrant in the Supreme Cooperative fraud case was issued against Lamichhane while he was in the custody of the District Police Office, Kaski. He was brought to Lumbini on November 12 to record his statement on the alleged misuse of deposits from Supreme Cooperative.

The Rupandehi DGAO earlier filed the Supreme Cooperative fraud case at the Rupandehi District Court on April 15 while Lamichhane was serving as the Home Minister. At that time, 28 individuals were charged with misappropriating Rs 861.8 million from 1,831 depositors.

Police conducted additional investigations after a supplementary complaint was filed naming 14 more defendants.