Rupandehi District Court Gives Two Reasons for Denying Rabi Lamichhane’s Release
Kathmandu, August 12 – The Rupandehi District Court on Monday evening rejected a bail request from former Home Minister and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane in a cooperative fraud case, citing two legal reasons under the Criminal Procedure Code, 2017.
Lamichhane had sought release under Sections 68 and 71 of the Code, which allow bail at any stage of proceedings. However, Judge Narayan Prasad Sapkota ruled that the matter had already been considered by higher courts, including the Supreme Court, which had overturned a previous bail order. The court said it could not re-examine the same issue under these circumstances.
The first reason for denying bail was that the total financial loss in the cooperative fraud case linked to Lamichhane had not yet been determined. Although he submitted a bank guarantee for what he claimed was his share, the court said the overall liability remained unconfirmed.
The second reason concerned Section 71, which allows a change in detention only if new evidence emerges that fundamentally changes the basis of an earlier order. The court stated that Lamichhane had not presented any such evidence. Judge Sapkota also noted that witness statements and other evidence were still pending, making Section 71 inapplicable.
The court emphasized the need for a speedy trial and instructed that proceedings in the Supreme Cooperative case continue promptly. Lamichhane will remain in custody until the trial concludes at the Rupandehi District Court.
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