Police on Friday evening arrested former deputy prime minister and Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane in connection with an investigation into cooperative fraud and organised crime charges.

A police team deployed from the Central Investigation Bureau arrested him from his party’s head office in Banasthali, Kathmandu. He is being taken to Pokhara to face trial as the case was filed in Kaski district police.

The team led by Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati is preparing to take him to Pokhara via road.

After the arrest warrant was issued, Lamichhane posted on social media, venting his ire against the government and expressing his commitment to fully cooperate with the investigation process.

Lamichhane criticised the government for its alleged hypocrisy, stating corrupt leaders are protected while ordinary citizens, like himself, face unfair charges.

“The government has died, and we are in mourning. Your wristwatch is worth millions, while I wear handcuffs. You serve intermediaries and wear expensive glasses and shoes gifted by smugglers, while I carry the burden of accusations. You take land worth millions from proven corrupt figures, and I’m the one being accused of fraud,” Lamichhane wrote on social media.

Lamichhane accused the government of using its power to protect its leaders and failed to hold corrupt figures accountable, even in the face of clear evidence. He also accused the ruling leaders of trying to protect its leaders, the general public and victims of corruption are denied justice.

“Now, we will lead the voice of cooperative victims. In your celebration of power, I commit to fully supporting the law and ensuring justice is served. Your actions will lead the country to ruin, but we will bring about change. The people will act, and soon, they will make their voices heard.”

Lamichhane also expressed confidence in his party and its role in this struggle, telling supporters, “To my RSP family, hold your heads high. Your chairperson has not defrauded anyone.”

Earlier today, Kaski District Court allowed the police to arrest formerLamichhane. The bench also allowed the police to arrest 13 others—Bishal Tamang, Navin Achami, Rabina Rimal, Ashraf Ali Siddiqui, Dipak Lama, Ananta Babu Rai, Ram Bahadur Khanal, Devendra Babu Rai, Bigyan Rai, Om Prakash Gurung, Bir Bahadur Ranabhat, Deepa Neupane, and Kalpana Kumari Shrestha–in connection with the same charges.

Earlier, the District Police Office, Kaski sent a letter to the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police requesting the latter to arrest Lamichhane for investigation into cooperative fraud and organised crime. The letter was addressed to the CIB, the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, and the Kathmandu District Police Range.

A parliamentary special probe committee was formed in May to investigate crisis-ridden cooperatives. The committee’s report concluded that Lamichhane was involved in misusing millions of rupees funnelled into Gorkha Media Network from various cooperatives when he was the managing director of the now-defunct media company that ran Galaxy 4K Television before joining politics. The report also holds several others responsible for their roles in the cooperative fraud.

The committee’s report calls for action against former deputy prime minister and home minister Lamichhane, and several others, as per the law.

The report has said over Rs63 billion was embezzled by cooperative owners from various crisis-ridden cooperatives across the country. It has recommended prosecuting four individuals, including Lamichhane, the then managing director of Gorkha Media Network; chairman Gitendra Babu (GB) Rai; a board member Kumar Ramtel; and initial founder of the company Chhabi Lal Joshi.

Joshi, a former deputy inspector general of Nepal Police, was arrested in Kathmandu a month ago. However, Lamichhane and the leaders of the Rastriya Swatantra Party deny any wrongdoing.

The special probe committee was formed on May 28. The seven-member committee was formed as per the demand of the then main opposition Nepali Congress that had been demanding such a committee to probe cooperative fraud and had even been obstructing parliamentary proceedings demanding the same.

Joshi, a retired deputy inspector general (DIG) of Nepal Police, is currently in custody.