Lamichhane sent to judicial custody

KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu District Court has sent former Home Minister and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane to judicial custody.

Lamichhane, who was released on bail by the Kaski District Court on Thursday evening in a case related to the misuse of deposits from the Pokhara-based Shivadarshan Cooperative, appeared before the Kathmandu District Court on Sunday morning. Government attorneys questioned Lamichhane throughout the day.

Although former attorney generals Raman Kumar Shrestha and Sushil Panta had reached the district court to defend Lamichhane in the detention hearing, district attorneys stated they needed more time to study Lamichhane’s statement. District Judge Madhav Prasad Adhikari then ordered that Lamichhane be handed over to the police on the condition that he will be presented before the court on Monday.

The Kathmandu District Court is also hearing a similar case related to the misuse of deposits from the Kalimati-based Swarnalaxmi Cooperative.

Police investigations revealed that Rs 57.89 million was siphoned to Gorkha Media Network from Swarnalaxmi Cooperative. The District Government Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu, is seeking to recover the amount in damages from the defendants, including Lamichhane.

Lamichhane served as the managing director of Gorkha Media Network before forming the RSP.