The Kaski District Court on Sunday, December 8, granted police permission to detain Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane for an additional four days in custody.
This marks the fifth extension of Lamichhane’s detention since his arrest on October 18 from his party office in Banasthali, Kathmandu. The former home minister was taken to Pokhara, where the case was filed against him, the same day. He faces allegations of misappropriation of cooperative funds, money laundering, and involvement in organised crime.
The most recent 15-day detention period ended on Saturday, December 7. With Sunday marking his 52nd day in custody, current regulations permit his detention to extend up to 60 days for organized crime charges and up to 90 days for money laundering investigations.
Lamichhane was brought to Kathmandu and later to Chitwan last week for recording statements following the issuance of arrest warrants by the respective district courts. He has also been accused of diverting deposits from the Kathmandu-based Swarnalaxmi Cooperative and Chitwan-based Sahara Cooperative.
Read: Recovery of Funds from Cooperatives Unlikely as their Liabilities Exceed Assets
Leaders from RSP and other political figures, including former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, have criticised the repeated extensions of Lamichhane's detention, calling it excessive and a violation of human rights. Some have accused authorities of subjecting him to unfair treatment under the guise of security concerns.
Two days after his arrest, the court had initially granted permission to keep him in custody for six days. It has been extended by seven days on October 24, 10 days on November 5, 13 days on November 10 and 15 days on November 24.
RSP, Nepal’s fourth-largest party in the House of Representatives, has vehemently opposed Lamichhane’s detention, accusing the ruling party of orchestrating a campaign of “injustice” against him. The party has argued that the investigation could have proceeded without remanding him in custody for an extended period.
Lamichhane, a television personality turned politician, was elected to the federal parliament from Chitwan. He has served twice as deputy prime minister and home minister and continues to assert his innocence in the cooperative funds case.
