Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane, currently in Kaski police custody on charges of cooperative fraud, organised crime, and money laundering, has been presented before Kaski District Court for remand extension on Tuesday.

Police have requested a four-day extension for further investigation, said Rajan Khanal, registrar at the court.

Lamichhane has been in custody since October 19.

On Monday, the Kaski District Police Office submitted a report to the Kaski District Attorney’s Office, demanding a case be filed against 51 people, including Lamichhane, on the charge of embezzling cooperative funds.

In the chargesheet, the police have determined that as much as Rs1.514 billion needs to be recovered from the accused. The police have proposed a case be filed against them on organised crime, cooperative frauds and money laundering charges. According to DSP Sharma, 37 of the 51 defendants are on the run.

The police have advised the government attorney to file a supplementary chargesheet in court against 51 people, including former home minister Lamichhane, on the charge of embezzling funds from the Karki-based Suryadarshan Cooperative. The police report has accused Lamichhane and his business partners GB Rai, Chhabi Lal Banjade Joshi, and Kumar Ramtel of an organised crime as well.

Lamichhane was arrested on October 18, while Joshi was detained on September 22 from Kathmandu. Since then, both of them have been in the custody of Kaski Police.