Nepal: Former Deputy PM Rabi Lamichhane placed in six-day judicial custody

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of Nepal, and current President of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rabi Lamichhane, has been remanded to six days of judicial custody by the Kaski District Court. This decision allows the District Police Office, Kaski, to further investigate allegations of organized crime and misappropriation of funds linked to Pokhara’s Suryadarshan Savings and Credit Cooperative Limited.

Lamichhane was presented before the court on Sunday, where the police sought an extension of his custody for investigation. He was arrested in Kathmandu on Friday and transferred to Pokhara later that night. Following his arrest, protests erupted, with RSP leaders, lawmakers, and supporters demonstrating in Pokhara as their party president was taken to court.

The situation intensified at Sahidchowk, Pokhara, where tensions rose after RSP cadres attempted to defy a prohibitory order enforced by the local administration. The order, in effect at Sahidchowk and Gairapatan, was implemented due to Lamichhane’s court appearance. In response to the unrest, police deployed water cannons to control the crowd.

Lamichhane is being investigated on charges of allegedly siphoning funds from the Pokhara-based cooperative to Gorkha Media Network in collusion with GB Rai. The ongoing probe is expected to focus on the misappropriation of savings from the cooperative and possible involvement in organized criminal activities.