The Rupandehi District Court has rejected Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane’s release petition, ordering the former home minister to remain in detention.
The bench of Judge Narayan Sapkota issued an order stating that Lamichhane's demand could not be met on the ground that the portion of his liability remains unverified.
"Since the repayment liability against him has not yet been verified, and as the ongoing case still requires witness testimonies and additional evidence to be collected, the current request made by the petitioner does not meet the conditions stipulated under Section 71 of the National Criminal Procedure (Code) Act, 2017. As the case file lacks supporting documents to justify releasing him on bank guarantee, it appears inappropriate to grant his petition for provisional release at this stage. Proceed as per law," states the order.
Lamichhane had filed a petition seeking his release and acquittal from the Supreme Cooperative fraud and organized crime case in Butwal, claiming he had already furnished a bank guarantee equivalent to the amount claimed.
During the hearing on Monday in the bench of Judge Sapkota at the Rupandehi District Court, Lamichhane's lawyers had demanded his release. Lamichhane's advocate argued that since he had submitted a bank guarantee covering his share of liability in the cooperative fraud case, he should be released.
He had deposited a bank guarantee of Rs 27 million 484 thousand along with his petition in the court. Lamichhane had filed the petition in the Rupandehi District Court on August 7.
A joint liability of Rs 109.936 million had been imposed on Lamichhane and other defendants in the Supreme Cooperative fraud case.
On April 4, in the Supreme Cooperative fraud case, the Tulsipur High Court's Butwal bench had ordered the judicial custody of Lamichhane necessitating further investigation. The Supreme Court had also upheld the High Court's decision. He is currently doing time in Bhairahawa Prison.
Cases related to cooperative fraud are also pending against him in Kaski, Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Parsa. In Kaski, apart from cooperative fraud and organized crime, a money laundering case has also been filed.
Lamichhane's position as a member of parliament has also been suspended due to his money laundering case.
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