The Kaski District Court on Sunday remanded Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair and former home minister Rabi Lamichhane into custody for six days for further investigation on charges of cooperative fund embezzlement and organised crime.

Lamichhane was arrested by a team of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) from his party office in Kathmandu on Friday. He was subsequently brought to Pokhara, where he was presented before the court on Sunday. The court, led by Judge Navaraj Dahal, granted permission for the six-day remand following a request from the police.

Lamichhane, along with several other individuals, is accused of being involved in misappropriating funds from the Pokhara-based Suryadarshan Savings and Credit Cooperative. The arrest followed a parliamentary probe which linked him and others to the embezzlement of millions of rupees from the cooperative.

The court had previously issued arrest warrants against 14 individuals, with investigations being conducted into their involvement. So far, over 60 people have been implicated in the cooperative’s financial irregularities, with seven, including Gorkha Media Network’s director Chhabilal Joshi, held in custody pending trial.

Meanwhile, protests have been staged both in favour of and against Lamichhane in Pokhara, with RSP supporters rallying for his release and cooperative victims demanding his detention for further investigation into the fraud allegations.

The police remain on alert to prevent any escalation as parallel demonstrations continue.

Earlier, District Administration Office, Kaski had issued a prohibitory order on Sunday afternoon to avoid a possible clash between the protesting parties.