Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair and former home minister Rabi Lamichhane has been transferred from Rupandehi District Prison to Nakkhu Jail in Lalitpur, where he has been placed in a separate cell.

Lamichhane, accused in the Butwal-based Supreme Cooperative fraud case, was in Rupandehi prison since April 7 under judicial custody.

Earlier, Lamichhane had twice appealed for a prison transfer. On May 28, he requested relocation to Dillibazar prison, which was not granted. More recently, on August 13, he submitted a supplementary petition seeking transfer to Nakkhu.

According to Prison Management Department Director General Lila Prasad Sharma, who assumed office earlier this week, the decision to move Lamichhane was taken on the basis of his second application.

On Saturday, after Rupandehi prison completed the necessary procedures, Lamichhane was flown to Kathmandu by plane and taken to Nakkhu jail.

“Nakkhu jail has prepared a separate room for him in the special block,” said Bhimraj Nirola, administrator of the prison. “He will not receive any extraordinary facilities, but will be kept in a separate cell.”

The transfer follows criticism that earlier court orders allowing relocation had not been implemented.

During a monitoring visit to Rupandehi prison last week, Lily Thapa, a commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, reported that Lamichhane expressed dissatisfaction at being denied transfer despite the court’s approval.

Lamichhane faces allegations of embezzling millions of rupees deposited by the public in various cooperatives, including Rupandehi-based Supreme Cooperative and transferring funds to Gorkha Media Network, where he was previously managing director.

Multiple cases have been filed accusing him of embezzling millions of rupees from various cooperatives based in Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara and Parsa as well.