Rupandehi Court denies Lamichhane’s money laundering case withdrawal
Attorney General Savita Bhandari had approved the withdrawal on Jan 14, keeping only the cooperative fraud case active.
KATHMANDU: Rupandehi District Court has refused to immediately process the withdrawal of organized crime and money laundering charges against Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane, pending the Supreme Court’s decision on a related writ.
Attorney General Savita Bhandari had approved the withdrawal on Jan 14, keeping only the cooperative fraud case active. The petition faces a Supreme Court challenge filed by Yubaraj Paudel.
In Pokhara, Lamichhane’s money laundering case linked to Surya Darshan Saving and Credit Cooperative has been petitioned for withdrawal in Kaski District Court, while cooperative fraud cases continue in Rupandehi, Kathmandu, and Kaski courts.
Lamichhane, former Deputy PM and Home Minister, spent 84 days in police custody during investigation.
He was released on Rs 6.5 million bail. The cooperative fraud case claims Rs 337.65 million, and money laundering seeks Rs 2.789 billion. A total of 63 defendants, including Lamichhane, are accused of defrauding 17,000 depositors of Rs 1.51 billion.
