SC registers writ petition against Deputy PM Lamichhane

KATHMANDU: A writ petition has been filed at the Supreme Court demanding the suspension of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

The writ challenges the decision by the Office of the Attorney General to give a ‘clean chit’ to Lamichhane on cooperative fraud allegations.

The apex court has scheduled a hearing on the petition filed by Advocate Anupam Bhattarai for Wednesday.

Earlier, the Supreme Court administration had refused to register Bhattarai’s petition. Bhattarai later challenged the Supreme Court administration’s decision at the apex court. A single bench of Justice Tek Prasad Dhungana had quashed the Supreme Court administration’s decision to reject the petition, paving the way for the registration of the petition.

In the petition, Bhattarai has demanded Lamichhane’s suspension from the ministerial position, accusing him of misusing his power to evade prosecution over the allegations against him. Bhattarai argues that if the investigation into Lamichhane finds him unfit for office, he should be suspended.

The petitioner has also sought an apex court order to revoke the letter written by the Office of the Attorney General stating that there were no complaints or prosecutions pending against Lamichhane.