Rabi Lamichhane to be released on Friday

KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane, who is currently in custody in connection with a cooperative fraud case, is set to be released on Friday following an order from the Butwal Bench of the Tulsipur High Court.

Lamichhane, presently held at Nakkhu Prison in Lalitpur, will be freed after completing the required legal formalities, including obtaining documents from the Rupandehi District Court.

He is expected to travel to Bhairahawa on Friday to collect the release warrant, after which he will be formally released.

The High Court has ordered Lamichhane’s release upon the deposit of a bail amount of Rs 268 million.

The Butwal Bench accepted the submitted bail and directed the authorities to release him accordingly.

On Thursday, a large crowd gathered outside the Nakkhu Prison after news spread that Lamichhane was likely to be released.

Chhabilal Joshi Also Eligible for Release on Bail

Former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, who is also detained in the same Supreme Cooperative fraud case, has likewise been granted an order for release on bail. The High Court ruled that Joshi can be released after depositing bail equivalent to the amount of loss attributed to him.

While Lamichhane had formally requested release after depositing Rs 274.84 million, Joshi had filed a similar application without specifying an amount.

According to Registrar Amit Upreti, Joshi must deposit bail equal to his share of the alleged financial loss to secure his release.

Both orders were issued by the Tulsipur High Court’s Butwal Bench on Thursday.