Former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and ex-director of Gorkha Media Network, Chhabilal Joshi, was brought to Butwal on Monday for testimony related to the fund embezzlement case involving Supreme Cooperative. Joshi, who was under custody in Pokhara during the investigation, was flown to Butwal for further legal proceedings.

According to Rupandehi Police spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police Laxmi Khanal, Joshi was presented to the public prosecutor's office on the same day. However, recording his statement will begin on Tuesday. “We have brought him to the public prosecutor today, but the testimony will start tomorrow,” Khanal said. Joshi is being held at the Area Police Office in Butwal as the case is being prosecuted from there.

An investigation revealed that nearly Rs150 million from the Butwal-based Supreme Multipurpose Cooperative’s funds was transferred into the account of Gorkha Media Network. Out of this, Rs20 million was in the name of Rabi Lamichhane, former managing director of Gorkha Media Network and Chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Additionally, Rs25 million was transferred to Joshi’s name, Rs40.5 million in the name of the media company, Rs15.6 million in the name of RSP Deputy General Secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya, Rs33 million in the name of Bhupendra Babu Rai, and Rs10.3 million in the name of Kumar Ramtel.

Joshi was arrested in Kathmandu on September 22, following the recommendations of a parliamentary special investigation committee led by lawmaker Surya Thapa. He was subsequently taken to Pokhara for further questioning.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Bijay Pandit confirmed that Joshi is being held in Butwal, with testimony set to begin on Tuesday. “We are yet to determine how many days the testimony will take and the next steps after that,” Pandit stated.