KATHMANDU: Rabi Lamichhane, Chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, remains suspended as a Member of Parliament due to his involvement in allegations of cooperative fraud and money laundering.
His ban was first put into effect on December 23 when the Kaski District Court registered a complaint against him. The charges include cooperative fraud, money laundering and organized crime.
After Kaski Police notified the Parliament Secretariat of the situation, they reaffirmed his ban. Padma Prasad Pandey, the general secretary, formally announced his suspension.
During the investigation, Lamichhane, who was also the Home Minister, was held for eighty-four days. He obtained a bank guarantee for Rs 6.5 million in bail, which allowed him to be released from Kaski Police custody on Thursday.
The case is still continuing in court, so even though Lamichhane was released on bail, his legal issues are far from done. He is unlikely to return to Parliament until the lawsuit is settled, according to legal experts.
The Parliament Secretariat spokesperson, Ekram Giri, explained that Lamichhane's suspension will stay in effect as long as the case is not settled.
Officials accused of violating the Prevention of Money Laundering Act of 2008 are immediately suspended while in custody and pending a decision.
Lamichhane's release was granted on a provisional basis by Kaski District Court Judge Nitij Rai; nevertheless, his suspension remains in place until a final decision is rendered. This emphasizes how short-term his existing legal respite is.
According to Article 87 of the Nepalese Constitution, parliamentarians are not ineligible until they have been found guilty under federal law. Therefore, even though Lamichhane is unable to carry out legislative obligations, he nevertheless technically maintains his MP position.
Additionally, those convicted of crimes like money laundering and corruption are prohibited from holding public office, according to the House of Representatives Election Act. Lamichhane's position in Parliament will be revoked if he is found guilty.
If a guilty verdict is found, a by-election will be necessary to fill Lamichhane's constituency seat. His political future will depend on the outcome of the ongoing legal processes.
His suspension demonstrates the judicial system's attempt to maintain accountability and integrity within Nepal's legislature while it examines the charges against Lamichhane.
