Detention hearing continues in Kaski; seven lawyers to defend Rabi Lamichhane
The hearing started Tuesday after statements from the accused were recorded.
KATHMANDU: The Kaski District Court has commenced a detention hearing against Rabi Lamichhane and six others accused in the Surya Darshan Cooperative fraud case.
The hearing started Tuesday after statements from the accused were recorded.
On the first day, Deputy Attorneys General Shantidevi Sharma and Sujata Paudel from the Government Attorney’s Office briefed Judge Nitij Rai about the case.
The session was adjourned due to time constraints and resumed today.
After the hearing, the judge will decide whether to release the accused on bail, grant a general date, or send them to judicial custody.
Charges Filed
Among the accused, Lamichhane, Chhabilal Joshi, and Rambahadur Khanal face allegations of cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering.
Leela Pacha is additionally charged with violating the Central Bank Act, along with similar accusations. The remaining three defendants are charged solely with cooperative fund embezzlement.
The case implicates 63 individuals, including cooperative operators, across eight companies. The prosecution seeks to recover over Rs 1.51 billion, of which Lamichhane is accused of defrauding Rs 33.76 million in cooperative fraud and laundering Rs 278.94 million.
Defence and Legal Representation
Over 50 lawyers have registered to defend Lamichhane, though only seven will present arguments. Senior Advocates Sushil Kumar Pant, Hari Subedi, and Dr. Narayan Ghimire, along with Advocates Dr. Narayan Kandel, Rohit Raj Bastola, Suraj Basnet, and Suvigna Pant, will lead the defense.
Special Government Attention
The government has shown particular interest in this case, deploying two attorneys from the Attorney General’s Office in Kathmandu to support the local prosecution team of five members in Kaski. Deputy Attorney General Sanjiv Raj Regmi and Assistant Attorney General Prakash Gautam have been sent to Pokhara for the case.
Political Angle Alleged
The case has sparked controversy, with allegations of political vendetta surfacing against Lamichhane. These claims stem from the investigation and filing processes handled by law enforcement and the judiciary.
