Court Orders Rabi Lamichhane to Remain in Custody

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane has been ordered to remain in custody by the Rupandehi District Court. The order was issued by Judge Narayan Prasad Sapkota’s bench.

Lamichhane has been in Rupandehi prison since April 7 (Chaitra 25) in connection with the Butwal Supreme Cooperative fraud case. He has denied any involvement in the fraud, saying he wants to ensure the return of depositors’ savings himself. On 4 August (Shrawan 19), he requested the district court to release him on bail equal to his alleged share of the loss.

His request was heard by Judge Sapkota’s bench. Along with his petition, Lamichhane submitted a bank guarantee of Rs 27.48 million (2 crore 74 lakh 84 thousand rupees) as bail.

In this case, on April 4 (Chaitra 22), the Butwal bench of the High Court in Tulsipur had already ordered that Lamichhane be kept in custody until trial. The Supreme Court later upheld that decision.