KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 20

The Kaski District Attorney's Office has filed supplementary charges in Kaski District Court against 19 people, including Gitendra Babu Rai, also known as GB Rai, in connection with the misappropriation of cooperative funds from the Pokhara-based Surya Darshan Cooperative, which also involves Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane.

Former deputy prime minister and home minister Lamichhane has been in custody for two months for an investigation into the cooperative funds misappropriation, money laundering and organised crime case.

Talking to THT , Khyam Narayan Lamichhane, acting registrar of the Kaski District Court, said, 'An additional supplementary charge sheet was filed today against 19 people, who were already named defendants.'

According to him, the amount has risen slightly following the supplement charge. The previous figure was around Rs 1.11 billion, and 400 million has been added now. 'The current total amount is around Rs 1.51 billion,' he told THT.

He also stated that 'the indictment is yet to be filed against Lamichhane and others newly accused'.

It was expected that a charge sheet would be filed against Lamichhane, who is currently detained by Kaski police, in the case. However, it has been revealed that the case would be filed against Lamichhane only later.

According to the court's acting registrar, the defendants against whom supplementary prosecution was registered today have been recommended for prosecution under the Organised Crime, Money Laundering, and National Bank Acts.

Last Monday, the police had submitted an investigation report to the Government Attorney's Office, recommending that Lamichhane be charged with cooperative fraud, organised crime and money laundering.

The following day, the Kaski District Court extended the detention period for Lamichhane for the eighth time, allowing the police to keep him in custody for four additional days.

Lamichhane was arrested in Kathmandu on October 18 and transferred to Kaski on charges of cooperative fraud.

He was then transported to Rupandehi, Kathmandu, Chitwan and Parsa for interrogation.

On Monday, Kaski police recommended that 51 people, including Lamichhane, face charges of cooperatives fraud, organised crime and money laundering.

But Lamichhane and his supporters have claimed that he is innocent in the cooperatives case.

According to the police report, damages could total Rs 1.51 billion. According to reports, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) assisted the Kaski Police in their investigation into the misappropriation of funds from the Surya Darshan Cooperative.

Even in money laundering cases, there is a legal requirement that the police file a case within 90 days of beginning their investigation.

The case has to be registered within that time frame as the period starts from September 22, when Chhabilal Joshi, another owner of Gorkha Media Pvt Ltd, who is accused of the same crime as Lamichhane, was arrested.

Police have recommended that Joshi, along with others involved with the GB Group and cooperative members, be prosecuted.