KATHMANDU: The Kaski District Court has granted Rabi Lamichhane, the president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Chhabilal Joshi an extended four-day remand, prolonging their custody while a cooperative fraud case is investigated further. After their prior five-day detention ended, the court granted the extension.
Rajan Khanal, an officer in the Kaski District Court, confirmed the decision, stating that the delay allows officials more time to finish their investigation and file a charge sheet. Hopefully, the charge sheet against Lamichhane, Joshi, and 49 others will be delivered to the court by Friday.
The District Police Office, Kaski, submitted the investigative report to the Public Prosecutor's Office on Monday, recommending three charges against Lamichhane. The government attorney's office is now reviewing the police findings in order to prepare for prosecution.
Lamichhane is also under investigation in relation to another case involving money laundering. On October 18, Lamichhane was taken into custody in Kathmandu. Nepali law allows detectives to continue investigating certain cases for a maximum of ninety days.
The 90-day investigation deadline for Chhabilal Joshi, who is also being held in relation to organized crime, money laundering, and cooperative fraud, is approaching on Friday. Since Lamichhane and Joshi are both facing similar accusations, the court has synchronized their detention schedules.
Lamichhane has been detained on several occasions throughout the ongoing inquiry, and this most recent extension is his ninth confinement. In order to complete their investigations and get ready for court procedures, the authorities are working within the allotted 90 days.
By the end of the week, the government lawyers are anticipated to formally file charges against Lamichhane, Joshi, and others as the probe approaches its conclusion, possibly paving the way for a high-profile court trial.
