The right-wing Rastriya Prajatantra Party has directed the party’s lawmaker Gita Basnet, who is absconding after an arrest warrant was issued against her on charges of misusing around Rs10 million cooperative fund, to appear before the court.

According to the party’s central member and Gandaki Provincial Assembly member Bindu Paudel, the party’s chairman Rajendra Lingden instructed Basnet to appear in court as per the decision of the party’s central committee held in Kathmandu on Monday.

Chairman Lingden directed her to abide by the law by appearing in court regarding her investment in a resort in Bardiya. She courted controversy after it was disclosed in a police investigation that she made the investment by allegedly misusing funds of the Nawalparasi-based Chhipchhipe Cooperative.

According to Paudel, Lingden also instructed his party cadres to assist in investigating the cooperative scam anywhere in the country.

The Nawalparasi District Police Office issued an arrest warrant against Basnet nearly a month ago but she has been out of contact ever since.

Notably, while the RPP has directed its lawmaker to be present in the court and has committed to cooperate with state agencies in investigating the cases, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) of Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, however, has been strongly protesting against the call for investigation on Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in embezzlement of millions of rupees from multiple cooperatives.

The main opposition party Nepali Congress has been obstructing Parliament proceedings for months demanding a probe into the home minister’s involvement in the cooperatives scam. But the ruling party has been opposing it causing a deadlock in Parliament.