The Rupandehi District Court on Monday ordered the detention of Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane in district prison in a case of cooperative fraud and organised crime.

The court issued the order after the police presented Lamichhane, who is also the former managing director of Gorkha Media Network, in line with a judicial custody order.

Earlier in the morning, Police presented former home minister Lamichhane in court after the written order was received from the Butwal bench of Tulsipur High Court.

Security measures have been enhanced in Bhairahawa, with both the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force deployed along the route to the court and in surrounding areas.

Lamichhane was arrested in Kathmandu on Friday night and brought to Bhairahawa on Saturday morning.

The decision follows a ruling earlier on Friday by the high court’s joint bench of judges Ramesh Dhakal and Swikriti Parajuli, which overturned a previous bail decision by the Rupandehi District Court.

Following the high court order, a police team from the Central Investigation Bureau arrested Lamichhane at his Budhanilkantha residence.

He has been accused of misusing tens of millions of rupees from the Butwal-based Supreme Cooperative when he was the managing director of the Gorkha Media Network, before he joined politics in 2022.

He has been accused of misusing tens of millions of rupees from the Butwal-based Supreme Cooperative when he was the managing director of the Gorkha Media Network, before he joined politics in 2022.

He will remain in the prison until the court gives the final verdict on the case.