KATHMANDU: Rabi Lamichhane, the former Deputy Prime Minister and chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, is being charged with fraud involving the Supreme Cooperative by the Rupandehi District Court. Hearings on Lamichhane's alleged involvement in the embezzlement of large sums of money began, and he showed up in court.
Lamichhane is accused of embezzling over Rs 861 million belonging to 1,831 savers through the cooperative. The case, presided over by Judge Pralhad Kumar Yogi, centers on claims of financial misconduct during his tenure as Managing Director of Gorkha Media Network.
According to police investigations, more than Rs 142.9 million was transferred from the cooperative to Gorkha Media Network, with Rs 20 million allegedly linked directly to Lamichhane. This forms a significant part of the fraud and organized crime case filed against him.
After being granted bail, Lamichhane had made payments of Rs 6.5 million in Kaski and Rs 6 million in Kathmandu. The seriousness of the charges against him was highlighted by the fact that these bail processes followed earlier accusations.
The current proceedings, which are garnering a lot of legal and public interest, are looking into Lamichhane's role in the alleged misuse of cooperative funds.
