POKHARA: Police have recommended Kaski District Government Attorney’s Office to prosecure Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane on cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering charges.
District Police Office, Kaski, submitted its investigation report to the Kaski District Government Attorney’s Office on Monday. Kaski Police Spokesperson Basanta Kumar Sharma said they submitted the investigation report along with supplementary documents from various agencies to the district attorney’s office.
The investigation into Lamichhane, who is also a former deputy minister and home minister, has concluded two months after his arrest. He was arrested in Kathmandu from RSP’s Central Office on October 18 and transferred to Pokhara on the same night.
While in the custody of Kaski police, Lamichhane was transferred to Rupandehi, Kathmandu, Chitwan and Parsa to record his statement. Separate cooperative fraud cases have been registered in against Lamichhane in these districts.
Lamichhane has been accused of embezzling deposits from Surya Darshan Cooperative of Kaski, Supreme Savings and Credit Cooperative of Rupandehi, Swarna Laxmi Cooperative of Kathmandu, Sahara Cooperative of Chitwan and Sano Paila Savings and Credit Cooperative of Parsa.
Tens of millions from these cooperative institutions have been siphoned off to Gorkha Media Network. Lamichhane served as managing director of the media company before he formed RSP ahead of the 2022 general election.
Police have also arrested other officials of Gorkha Media Network like former DIG Chhabi Lal Joshi and Kumar Ramtel, among others, for investigation.
