Rabi Lamichhane arrested, asks supporters to retaliate against govt

Rashtriya Swatantra party chief and former Deputy Prime Minister Rabi Lamichhane has been arrested today by the police from his office in Dhungedhara amidst a chorus of protests from his supporters.

Lamichhane was arrested by the police in connection with a cooperative scam over a month after the special committee of parliament found him guilty of embezzling around Rs. 85 crore borrowed from Surya Darshan cooperative based in Pokhara. Police adopted extra precaution as it obtained the approval of Kaski district court before the arrest.

A large crowd, including senior RSP leaders had assembled at the party office after speculation of Lamichhane’s impending arrest started doing the rounds. The former talk show host spoke to the media and asked his supporters to counter the state sponsored ‘dadagiri’, saying “I’m innocent and I have full faith in the judiciary”. Soon after, he was escorted to a waiting police vehicle and driven to Pokhara.

The court also issued a warrant of arrest against 13 others for allegedly being involved in the scam. Earlier in the day, Lamichhane had said his arrest will mark the beginning of the end of the Oli regime.