Money laundering case likely against former DIG Joshi

POKHARA: The Kaski District Court on Sunday extended Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane’s remand by 13 days.

Lamichhane has been in the custody of Kaski police since October 19 for investigation of his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of cooperative deposits.

According to Suraj Adhikari, the information officer for the Kaski District Court, a single bench of District Judge Navaraj Dahal on Sunday permitted police to keep Lamichhane and three others – former DIG Chabilal Joshi, Ram Bahadur Khanal of Nature Herbs and Lila Pachhai – in custody for 13 more days.

The four will remain in police custody till at least November 22.

Police are investigating Lamichhane, who is also a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, for cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering charges. He has been accused of misappropriating funds from Suryadarshan Cooperative and others while serving as the Managing Director of Gorkha Media Network.

Senior Advocates Meghraj Ghimire, Sushil Pant and Narayan Ghimire, and Advocate Renuka Sitaula represented Lamichhane in court on Sunday, while Senior Advocate Jagannath Dhakal pleaded on behalf of Joshi. Likewise, Advocate Yuvaraj Parajuli represented the complainant Krishna Raj Jaisi, while Advocate Bed Bahadur (BB) Bista, along with government attorneys, represented the cooperative victims.

Former DIG Joshi, who also served as the Vice Chairperson of Gorka Media, had already completed 52 days in custody when he was presented in the district court on Sunday. Legal experts suggest that the additional 13-day remand extension indicates a likely money laundering case against him, as organized crime charges must be filed within 60 days.

Advocate Bistas said that the delay in filing charges against Joshi suggests that a money laundering case is likely against him. “This reduces the chances of victims recovering their deposits,” he added.

Meanwhile, RSP workers protested at the Mahendrapul area of Kaski on Sunday afternoon demanding Lamichhane’s release.