The Kathmandu District Court on Friday extended the detention of Nepali Congress lawmaker Maya Rai for another five days to allow police for further investigation into her alleged involvement in cooperative fraud and organised crime.

Judge Padamraj Pandey approved the extension at the request of the Kathmandu police. Superintendent of Police Apilraj Bohara, spokesperson for the Kathmandu District Police Range, confirmed the court’s order.

Rai, who was arrested on Saturday evening from her home in Kapan, Kathmandu, is accused of embezzling billions of rupees from the Swarnalaxmi Savings and Credit Cooperative Society in Kalimati. The cooperative defrauded 690 depositors, and Rai, who served as an assistant secretary of the society’s management committee, is facing prosecution for her role.

Earlier, the Kathmandu District Court had issued an arrest warrant for Rai, who had been elected to Parliament under the indigenous community quota.

Rai, who had been absconding for eight months, stirred controversy by visiting Parliament to mark her attendance on the opening day of the budget session on April 26, despite being a fugitive in police record. Her unhindered entry and exit from Parliament building raised questions over the home ministry’s handling of the case, particularly given the Congress party’s leadership of the ministry.

Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak is the home minister.