The Butwal bench of the Tulsipur High Court has sought the evidence file from the Supreme Court in response to a petition filed by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chairman Rabi Lamichhane.

Former home minister Lamichhane demanded release from custody by depositing the bail amount earlier determined by Rupandehi court in Butwal-based Supreme Cooperative fraud case.

A division bench of Chief Judge Basudev Acharya and Judge Om Prasad Aryal issued the order on Thursday, marking the second time the court has asked for the original documents.

During Thursday’s hearing, advocates Narayandatta Kandel, Mahendra Pandey, and Dipendra Jha argued on behalf of Lamichhane, while deputy attorneys general Sandesh Shrestha and Prakash Marasini represented the government.

Lamichhane, who is currently in judicial custody for alleged fund misuse in the Supreme Cooperative based in Butwal, had earlier petitioned the Rupandehi District Court to be released by paying his portion of the liability. The district court, however, rejected his plea on August 11.

Following the rejection, he filed a fresh application at the Tulsipur High Court’s Butwal bench on August 25.

According to the chargesheet, Lamichhane and other defendants are collectively accused of misappropriating Rs109.36 million. Lamichhane has submitted a bank security of Rs27.48 million—equivalent to one-fourth of the total liability—while another defendant Chhabilal Joshi has submitted the same amount.

Both Lamichhane and Joshi remain in custody pending trial. Lamichhane, initially held at the Bhairahawa prison, has since been transferred to Nakkhu Prison in Lalitpur.