Kaski court orders revocation of GB Rai’s passport

POKHARA: The Kaski District Court has ordered the revocation of the passport of Gitendra Babu (GB) Rai, the main accused in the Suryadarshan Cooperative fraud case. The bench of District Judge Himal Lal Belbase issued the order on Friday.

Rajan Khanal, the registrar of the Kaski District Court, told Himal Press that the court has ordered the Department of Passports to cancel GB Rai’s passport. “We will now correspond with the Department of Passport as per the order,” Khanal added.

GB Rai is facing charges of cooperative fraud, organized crime and money laundering in Kaski and several other district courts.

The District Police Office, Kaski, had filed a petition through the district government attorney’s office for the cancellation of Rai’s passport to facilitate his arrest. He has been evading court proceedings by hiding abroad.

Among the 63 accused in the pending court case in Kaski, Rai faces claims amounting to Rs 1.86 billion. Seven accused of the case, including Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane, have been released on bail.

Rai established Suryadarshan Cooperative in Pokhara in 2008 as part of expanding a nationwide network of saving and credit cooperatives.

Nepal Police had previously issued a diffusion notice on the Interpol for Rai’s arrest.