Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair and former home minister Rabi Lamichhane has been sent to police custody following a hearing at the Chitwan District Court on Wednesday. The hearing, which began with the recording of his statement, could not be completed, leading the court to place him under police custody.

According to court information officer Amrit Bishwakarma, the single bench of Judge Dayaram Dhakal recorded Lamichhane’s statement. The case relates to the Sahara Multipurpose Cooperative fraud, where Lamichhane, along with several others, faces charges of financial irregularities and fraudulent activities.

This case follows the filing of charges on September 24, when Gitendra Babu (GB) Rai, the founder of the cooperative, was named the primary suspect. In that filing, 17 individuals were implicated in the scam, including former officials of the cooperative.

Lamichhane, who was also a shareholder and director of Gorkha Media Network at the time, is under investigation for his role in diverting funds from various cooperatives to the media company. Lamichhane, who was elected a member of the House of Representatives from Chitwan-2, has been suspended as a lawmaker after filing the case in the court.

Other defendants in the case include Ram Bahadur Khanal, Rabina Rimal, Bishal Tamang, Nabin Achhami, Kabita Tamang, Dipak Lama, Ashraf Ali Siddiki, Bhagwati Bamjan, Laxmi Prasad Paudel, Bijay Rai, Netrapani Bastola, Shiva Bahadur Gurung, and Pragati Shrestha.

Lamichhane and Joshi, among others, who have faced similar charges in Kaski, Kathmandu and Rupandehi districts, were released on bail from the courts in the respective districts.