Himal Press 
POKHARA: Lawyers representing former home minister and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane have argued that supplementary charges filed against the former home minister should be dismissed as they were filed after the statute of limitations expired.
They contended that there is no legal basis to seek Rs 280 million from Lamichhane under money laundering charges. During a bail hearing at the Pokhara District Court on Monday, they argued that Lamichhane’s bank account only held Rs 700,000. “Police looked into Gorkha Media Network’s accounts before Lamichhane joined the media company,” they said. “Police studied accounts dating back to 2011 while Lamichhane joined the media company in 2021 only.”
Three senior advocates – Sushil Pant, Raman Kumar Shrestha and Surendra Thapa – made their arguments in defense of Lamichhane on Monday. According to Rajan Khanal, the registrar at the district court, since the lawyers representing the defendants have not concluded their arguments, the hearing would continue on Tuesday as well.
The RSP President has been charged with cooperative fraud, organized crime and money laundering.
Lamichhane’s lawyer also claimed that the Rs 10 million demand form allegedly signed by Lamichhane was proven forged and that fraud charges cannot apply since he was never a cooperative member. “Additionally, if he had been a legitimate borrower from the cooperative, there should have been a loan agreement, and the cooperative should have sent notices to recover the loans,” they added.
Lamichhane’s lawyers expressed confidence that Lamichhane should be released unconditionally on the very first hearing.
Lamichhane and 62 others have been accused of misappropriating Rs 1.51 from Suryadarshan Saving and Cooperatives, Pokhara.
