The Kaski District Court on Sunday, November 24, granted Kaski police the permission to detain Rabi Lamichhane, President of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), for an additional 15 days, according to the state-owned news agency RSS.
This marks the fourth time Lamichhane's detention has been extended since he was arrested last month.
Information Officer at Kaski District Court Suraj Adhikari confirmed to RSS that the single bench of Justice Himlal Belbase granted the extension for investigation.
Read: Rabi Lamichhane to be Detained for 13 More Days
Lamichhane, who was arrested on October 18 from his party office in Banasthali, Kathmandu, has been accused of misappropriating cooperative funds, engaging in money laundering, and being involved in organised crime.
Under current regulations, Lamichhane’s custody can be extended up to 60 days for organised crime charges. However, the former deputy prime minister and home minister can be held in custody for 90 days for investigations into money laundering allegations.
Read: Recovery of Funds from Cooperatives Unlikely as their Liabilities Exceed Assets
Initially, the court granted a six-day detention on October 20, followed by extensions of seven days on October 24, ten days on November 5, and another thirteen days on November 10.
On November 12, police transferred Lamichhane to Bhairahawa in Rupandehi district following the Rupandehi District Court's issuance of arrest warrants on October 24 for 12 individuals, including Lamichhane and GB Rai.
After recording his statement, he was brought back to Kaski on November 15.
Meanwhile, district courts of Kathmandu and Chitwan have also issued arrest warrants on November 17 and November 23, respectively, against Lamichhane and others for allegedly diverting deposits from the Kathmandu-based Swarnalaxmi Cooperative and Chitwan-based Sahara Cooperative.
RSP, the fourth-largest party in the House of Representatives, has been voicing strong criticism for their chair’s detention, accusing the ruling party of “trapping him in a web of injustice”, arguing that the investigation could have been carried out without reminding him in prolonged custody.
Lamichhane, along with his supporters, has consistently asserted his "innocence" in the cooperative case.
The television personality turned politician was elected in the Lower House of Federal Parliament from Chitwan and has served twice as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.
(With inputs from RSS)
