RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane Released on Bail

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman and former Managing Director of Gorkha Media Network, Rabi Lamichhane, has been released.

Lamichhane, who is also a former Home Minister, was freed on Friday evening after appearing at the Rupandehi District Court in Bhairahawa to complete the necessary legal documentation.

He had been in custody pending trial on charges of organized crime and the embezzlement of funds from the Supreme Savings and Credit Cooperative in Butwal. On Thursday, a bench of the High Court Tulsipur (Butwal Bench), comprising Judges Basudev Acharya and Tej Narayan Paudel, ordered his release subject to several conditions.

The High Court overturned the District Court’s previous order from August 10 (Shrawan 26) and directed his release upon the provision of a bank guarantee equivalent to the disputed amount (Bigo). Padam Aryal, Information Officer at the Rupandehi District Court, stated that Lamichhane was released after the original case file arrived from the High Court and he signed a commitment to fulfill any additional financial liabilities should the final court verdict demand them.

According to the court order, the High Court accepted the 10 million (1 Crore) NPR bail previously deposited. After providing an additional 27.4 million (2 Crore 74 Lakh) NPR as per the new order—totaling 37.48 million NPR (3 Crore 74 Lakh 84 Thousand) in bail—Lamichhane was released.

The court’s conditions also stipulate that Lamichhane must be prepared to cover any future liabilities that may arise and must provide prior notification to the court if he needs to travel abroad.