Rabi Lamichhane faces intense investigation: Likely to be taken to other districts

KATHMANDU: Kaski Police are conducting a serious investigation into Ravi Lamichhane, the former director of Gorkha Media Network, who was detained on charges of embezzlement from cooperative funds. He was brought to Pokhara on suspicion of large-scale misappropriation of savings from various cooperative institutions to his media network.

Lamichhane was involved with Gorkha Media before entering politics, and allegations of misappropriation of savings have persisted since his time there.

He was arrested in Kathmandu on charges of embezzling savings from Surya Darshan Cooperative. According to the police, he is also being investigated for organized crime. It is suspected that Lamichhane may have been involved with several other cooperatives that provided loans to Gorkha Media, in addition to Surya Darshan Cooperative.

Cooperatives such as Supreme Cooperative in Butwal, Sano Paila in Birgunj, Sahara in Chitwan, Samanata in Nepalgunj, and Swarnalakshmi Cooperative in Kathmandu have all fallen under the scope of this investigation.

A parliamentary investigation committee’s report pointed out that a large amount of funds was transferred to Gorkha Media from these cooperatives.

In the case of Supreme Cooperative in Butwal, charges have already been filed against 28 individuals regarding embezzlement of savings. If Lamichhane’s involvement with other cooperatives is proven, there is a growing possibility that he may be taken to other districts for further investigation.

Last month, former police officer Chhabilal Joshi was also arrested as part of this investigation. After completing the investigation in Pokhara, he was transferred to Butwal. Similar procedures could be repeated in the case of Lamichhane, as per police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki.

According to Karki, the investigation into fund embezzlement linked to Gorkha Media is currently ongoing in Kaski. If evidence shows funds coming from other cooperatives, the investigation could extend to other districts as well. “Depending on the needs of the investigation, he could be taken to other locations,” Karki said.

Based on the ongoing investigation, the police could seek an extension from the court to keep Lamichhane in custody for up to two months. Once the investigation in Kaski concludes, the court will decide whether to release him on bail or keep him in custody pending trial. For now, the police are awaiting the court’s decision on extending his detention after the initial five-day remand period expires. If new facts emerge during the investigation, Lamichhane could also be detained in other districts.