KATHMANDU: The Chitwan Police are set to initiate another fraud case against President of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Rabi Lamichhane, in connection with the misappropriation of funds from Sahara Chitwan Multipurpose Cooperative.
Chitwan police have prepared a supplementary report against 31 individuals and 7 companies, including Lamichhane, in the case of embezzlement of savings from Sahara Chitwan Multipurpose Cooperative and submitted it to the District Attorney’s Office.
The police have already submitted an investigation report to the government attorney in the case of embezzlement of cooperative funds.
According to the investigation report, it has been found that Rs 431.449 million was illegally invested in various companies by the cooperative.
It has been seen that Rs 108 million was invested in Gorkha Media Network Pvt. Ltd., Rs 97 million was invested in Nature Herbs International Pvt. Ltd., Rs 97 million was invested in GB Group of Companies, Rs 68 million was invested in Spring Wood Real Estate, and Rs 65 million was invested in Nature Nest Pvt. Ltd. The total savings of the cooperative’s 6,334 savers is Rs 523.285.308. The cooperative’s total liability capital is Rs 651.671.712, according to the investigation report. The cooperative has yet to recover Rs 562.250.115 of the loan investment, according to the police.
The police have demanded legal action against the defendants as per the Criminal Code 2074 and the Prevention of Organized Crime Act 2070.
The District Attorney’s Office has stated that it will take further legal action after studying the report.
Lamichhane was earlier released from police custody after posting bail of Rs 6.5 million in the Surya Darshan Cooperative in Pokhara and Rs 6 million in the Swarnalakshmi Cooperative fraud case in Kathmandu.
Lamichhane has been charged with fraud, organized crime and money laundering. The Kaski and Kathmandu District Courts had sought bail as Lamichhane’s innocence was not apparent in the initial hearing.
Lamichhane and others are accused of defrauding the cooperatives of Surya Darshan of Kaski, Swarna Lakshmi of Kathmandu, Sahara of Chitwan, Supreme of Rupandehi, and Sanopaila of Parsa.
The main director of all these cooperatives is GB Rai, who is currently absconding. His partners include Chhabilal Joshi, Ravi, and Kumar Ramtel. Kumar Ramtel is currently in Kaski jail. Nature Herbs was a joint venture between GB and Chhabi.
