Charge-Sheet Filed Against RSP Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane

A charge-sheet has been filed against Rabi Lamichhane, Chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), at the Kaski District Court. Lamichhane is currently in police custody in Kaski, facing allegations of misappropriating cooperative funds.

According to Suraj Adhikari, Information Officer at the District Court, the charge-sheet includes other individuals accused in the same misappropriation case alongside Lamichhane. “The verification of the documents is ongoing, and they will be registered today,” he added.

Lamichhane is accused of embezzling funds from the Pokhara-based Surya Darshan Savings and Cooperatives Limited. He has been in police custody since October 18, after being arrested in Kathmandu and brought to Kaski for further investigation. Lamichhane is also being probed for potential misuse of cooperative funds in other districts.

A case was registered today against 44 individuals and organizations, with a supplementary charge sheet filed last Friday against 19 people, including Gorkha Media Chairman GB Rai, in connection with the same incident.

Kamala Kafle, head of the District Cooperative Attorney’s Office in Kaski, stated that a total of Rs 1.51 billion has been demanded from the accused. Kafle explained that a group had systematically defrauded the cooperative, and they are now charged with cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering for embezzling and laundering the cooperative’s funds.

The police initiated further investigations into the Suryadarshan cooperative fraud based on reports from the Pokhara Metropolitan City and a parliamentary special committee. According to the police, Rabi Lamichhane, who had claimed no personal or institutional involvement in the cooperative’s financial dealings or Gorkha Media, was found to have checks issued in the name of Suryadarshan. The police have presented evidence of these checks.

Although the total claim is Rs 1.51 billion, Lamichhane is only connected to the loan taken in his name and the investment in Gorkha Media, so the charges against him are limited to these aspects, according to a police officer.

A case was previously filed in the Kaski District Court on 18 Asoj, 2080 BS, concerning fraud by the Surya Darshan Cooperative, with key figures including Vice President Kailash Darlami, Treasurer Kumar Ramtel, former director Shiv Bahadur Gurung (Mahendra Bhote), Pramod Bhattarai, Anuj Nakarmi, Bhavishwar Aryal, and others currently in custody. The claim for fraud in that case amounted to Rs 1.11 billion.

A separate case was filed on Friday against the accused for organized crime and money laundering. The District Court will now hear their statements during the next proceedings.