Kaski District Court Grants Bail to Rabi Lamichhane in Cooperative Fund Misappropriation Case
Kaski District Court has granted bail to Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane in a case involving misappropriation of cooperative funds, organized crime, and money laundering. The court set his bail at Rs 6.5 million, allowing Lamichhane to walk free after spending more than 80 days in custody. In addition to Lamichhane, two other key defendants—Ram Bahadur Khanal and former DIG Chhabilal Joshi—were released after posting their respective bails of Rs 1.5 million and Rs 8.8 million. However, Lamichhane still faces multiple ongoing investigations in Rupandehi, Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Parsa districts. Despite his release, Lamichhane remains under scrutiny as the government has filed a separate case of misappropriation of funds linked to Swarnalaxmi Multipurpose Cooperatives in Kathmandu. Deputy Attorney General Sanjeeb Raj Regmi indicated that Lamichhane could be re-arrested and presented before the Kathmandu District Court or Rupandehi police if necessary. The decision to release Lamichhane sparked celebrations among his supporters, with RSP leaders and cadres gathering outside the court to express their joy. RSP spokesperson Manish Jha emphasized that the party would contest all allegations against Lamichhane in the courts, respecting the judicial process. Lamichhane, who previously served as Nepal’s Home Minister, faces serious allegations related to the misappropriation of cooperative funds during his tenure as managing director of Gorkha Media Network Pvt Ltd. While he denies any wrongdoing, the case continues to unfold, with further legal actions expected in the coming months.
According to the Information Officer of Kaski District Court, Suraj Adhikari, seven of the 42 defendants in the case contested the charges, with six securing bail. One defendant, Lila Pachai, was sent to judicial custody for failing to post bail.
