KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 28
President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rabi Lamichhane, who was brought to Kathmandu for interrogation in a cooperative fraud case, will be detained by the District Police Range.
According to SP Nawaraj Adhikari of the District Police Range in Kathmandu, he was flown to Kathmandu on Thursday evening by Buddha Air and will be held at the Bhadrakali Police Office. He will give a statement at the District Government Attorney's Office in Kathmandu beginning tomorrow (Friday).
Similarly, Kaski's Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Basanta Sharma, stated that Lamichhane was taken to Kathmandu to record his statement after the Kathmandu District Court issued an arrest warrant for the embezzlement of Swarnalaxmi financial cooperative funds.
Lamichhane is also being investigated in Pokhara for embezzlement of funds from Pokhara-based Suryadarshan Savings and Credit Cooperatives Ltd. and organised crime, and he has been detained by police since October 18.
Previously, the Kaski District Court had extended Lamichhane's arrest by 15 days. However, the police had asked for 25 days.
According to officials, Lamichhane is also being investigated for money laundering, and under existing law, he could be detained and interrogated for up to 90 days.
Meanwhile, an arrest warrant has been issued for him in other jurisdictions, and a court granted permission last Friday to arrest Lamichhane in connection with the fraud in Chitwan for an investigation into cooperative fraud and organised crime.
The Kathmandu District Court had also issued an arrest warrant on November 17.
Lamichhane was taken to Rupandehi during the investigation of another cooperative's money embezzlement case, and his statement was recorded.