High Court Set to Review Rabi Lamichhane’s Cooperative Fraud Case Today

The Butwal bench of the High Court, Tulsipur, is set to hear the cooperative fraud and organized crime case against Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane and former Gorkha Media operator Chhabilal Joshi today. The hearing will take place before a joint bench of Judges Basudev Acharya and Om Prakash Aryal.

Lamichhane had filed an appeal at the High Court on August 25, challenging the Rupandehi District Court’s decision of August 10 that denied his release on bail in connection with the Supreme Cooperative fraud case. Although he had submitted a bank guarantee equivalent to his alleged share of misappropriated funds, the district court had rejected his request for release.

The High Court had earlier decided to conduct a joint hearing on the petitions filed by both Lamichhane and Joshi, who are accused in the same case involving Rs 109.36 million in total losses. Both had submitted bank guarantees of Rs 27.48 million each, equivalent to one-fourth of the alleged amount. However, the district court had ruled that their individual liabilities could not yet be confirmed, denying bail.

Lamichhane has since been transferred from Bhairahawa Prison to Nakkhu Jail in Lalitpur, while Joshi remains in Bhairahawa Jail. Today’s hearing is expected to play a crucial role in determining the next phase of the case.