KATHMANDU: In the continuing Suryadarshan Cooperative embezzlement case, government lawyers will make their counterarguments at the Kaski District Court. This comes after Wednesday's conclusion of the defendants' attorneys' arguments.
Rabi Lamichhane, the former Deputy Prime Minister and chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is one of six co-defendants in the case. Its prominent status has attracted a great deal of public and legal attention.
Since December 31, 2024, Judge Nitij Rai has presided over the sessions, which have now reached a pivotal moment. Whether Lamichhane and the other suspects are released pending trial or remain in custody for further investigation is expected to be decided by the court.
Lamichhane and 43 others were charged by the Kaski District Government Attorney’s Office on December 22, with accusations including cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering linked to the Suryadarshan Cooperative.
Ram Bahadur Khanal, Leela Pachhai, Krishna Bahadur Gurung, a former soldier of the British Army, and former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Chhabilal Joshi are among the other prominent co-defendants in the case. There are 63 defendants in all the cooperative fraud cases.
According to the charges, there was intentional financial mismanagement and systematic embezzlement of monies from cooperative members through coordinated methods. The impacted persons have experienced extensive suffering as a result of this.
In an effort to hold the accused accountable for the fraudulent actions, plaintiff lawyers started their reply on Wednesday after the defense's arguments.
It is anticipated that today's hearing will clarify Lamichhane and his co-defendants' current legal position, which is a significant step in this high-stakes financial fraud case.
