The District Government Attorney Office, Kaski, filed a case on Sunday, December 22, against 31 individuals, including Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Rabi Lamichhane, at the district court.
Of the accused, 31 individuals face charges of cooperative fraud, 19 of organised crime and four of money laundering. Lamichhane, the former deputy prime minister and home minister, is accused of all three.
The other three individuals charged with money laundering are Ram Bahadur Khanal, Chhabilal Joshi, and Lila Pachaai.
The charges are linked to financial irregularities involving the Pokhara-based Suryadarshan Savings and Cooperatives Limited.
Assistant District Attorney Shanti Devi Sharma of the District Government Attorney's Office, Kaski, informed state-owned news agency RSS that the case seeks the recovery of Rs 278.94 million from Lamichhane for money laundering and Rs 33.76 million for cooperative fraud.
Read: Recovery of Funds from Cooperatives Unlikely as their Liabilities Exceed Assets
Lamichhane has been in police custody since October 18. He was apprehended from his party office in Kathmandu and transferred to Kaski for investigation. He remains under investigation for similar allegations in other districts as well.
The District Government Attorney Office informed RSS, the state-owned news agency, that cooperative fraud case has been registered against 63 individuals so far.
RSS
Related stories:-
Recovery of Funds from Cooperatives Unlikely as their Liabilities Exceed Assets
Proposal to Cap Individual Deposits in Cooperatives at Rs 2.5 Million