Nepal Police Moves to Implicate RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane in Organized Crime Case Following Cooperative Scam Probe

Nepal Police has initiated the process to implicate Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane under an organized crime case following directives from Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

The move comes after the release of a parliamentary probe report on the misuse of cooperative savings funds. While the report did not directly implicate Lamichhane in the cooperative scam tied to Gorkha Media Network, the police are now considering charges under the Organized Crime Prevention Act, 2070, as it may be more feasible to obtain an arrest warrant. Earlier attempts to secure a warrant under the Cooperative Act, 2074 were unsuccessful due to the lack of direct evidence linking him to the cooperative’s operations.

In contrast, former Gorkha Media director Chhabilal Joshi was arrested in connection with the Surya Darshan Cooperative scam and has been transported to Pokhara, where the case has been filed. Despite the complexities surrounding Lamichhane's involvement, police sources have indicated that he could be investigated for four separate charges, including the cooperative scam. The Nepal Police, under guidance from the Home Ministry, will continue its investigation into all the allegations as recommended by the parliamentary probe report, ensuring that Lamichhane is interrogated on all potential criminal counts.