Police arrested Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair Rabi Lamichhane on Friday evening from his residence in Kathmandu following an order from the Butwal bench of the Tulsipur High Court to take him in custody in connection with a cooperative fraud case.

The court’s joint bench of justices Ramesh Dhakal and Swikriti Parajuli earlier in the afternoon overturned a decision by the Rupandehi District Court, which had released Lamichhane on bail.

The ruling also upheld the district court’s previous decision to send former Gorkha Media Network operator Chhabilal Joshi, who is also former deputy inspector general of Nepal Police, to custody for further investigation.

A police team under the command of senior superintendent of police Hobindra Bogati from the Central Investigation Bureau reached Lamichhane’s residence shortly after the court order.

After the court ruling, Lamichhane wrote, “Respecting the honourable court’s decision, I am surrendering myself to the authorities. I will knock on every door in search of justice.”

He further claimed he was facing injustice and appealed to his supporters not to delay the party’s upcoming event in Chitwan scheduled for Saturday.

The high court’s order also clears the way for Lamichhane to be transferred to Rupandehi for further proceedings. He faces charges of fraud and organised crime in the Supreme Cooperative case, in which the government alleges millions were misappropriated.

The case has become one of several cooperative fraud cases Lamichhane is entangled in. An audit report has suggested large sums were deposited into accounts connected to the now-defunct Gorkha Media Network, with Lamichhane, Joshi, and GB Rai listed as key defendants.