Police on Thursday presented former deputy prime minister and home minister Rabi Lamichhane before the Kaski District Court, seeking an extension of his custody in connection with a cooperative fraud and organised crime investigation.

The court had previously allowed the Kaski Police to detain Lamichhane for six days following his arrest. He was presented in the court today after the remand expired on Wednesday night.

With the interrogation still incomplete, police and the government attorney's office are preparing to request an extension of his custody.

Lamichhane was arrested in Kathmandu on Friday and subsequently transported to Pokhara for his court appearance. He, along with several others, is accused of misappropriating funds from the Pokhara-based Suryadarshan Savings and Credit Cooperative. This arrest followed a parliamentary probe linking him and others to the embezzlement of millions of rupees from the cooperative.

Meanwhile, police also presented former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and ex-director of Gorkha Media Network Chhabilal Joshi before the Pokhara court today. Joshi was arrested on September 22 in Kathmandu and is charged with misappropriating funds from the Suryadarshan Savings and Credit Cooperative. He was taken to Butwal on Monday for testimony related to the embezzlement case. Both Lamichhane and Joshi are also implicated in the embezzlement of deposits from the Supreme Saving and Credit Cooperative in Butwal.