KATHMANDU: A charge sheet against former Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane has been submitted to the Kaski District Court in connection with a cooperative fraud case. The Surya Darshan Cooperative in Pokhara is connected to the case through financial irregularities. 

District Attorney Kamala Kafle said the evidence-supported, four-and-a-half-page charge sheet was filed against Lamichhane and 31 other individuals. He stated that Lamichhane and the other defendants are charged with money laundering, organized crime, and cooperation fraud.  

The court is currently reviewing and verifying the provided documentation. This follows the submission of an investigation report by the Kaski District Police Office, which was forwarded to the government attorney's office for further action.  

The article claims that Lamichhane, GB Rai, and other others are charged with cheating about one billion rupees. Legal action against 19 people, including Rai, the chairman of Gorkha Media Pvt. Ltd., was suggested in light of these results.  

Lamichhane is presently in custody at the Kaski police station as investigations into the Surya Darshan Cooperative fraud case continue.  

The Parliamentary Investigation Special Committee had earlier demanded action against Lamichhane, citing allegations of corruption at a number of cooperatives throughout Nepal, including Supreme Savings and Loan Cooperative in Butwal and Surya Darshan Cooperative in Pokhara.  

Swarna Laxmi Cooperative in Kathmandu, Sano Paila Savings and Loan Cooperative, Sahara Chitwan Multipurpose Cooperative in Birgunj, and Samanta Cooperative in Nepalgunj are among the cooperatives impacted by the scam.  

Further linking Lamichhane to the scam, the money was allegedly misappropriated through Gorkha Media Network, where he was Managing Director.  

As a result of the case, Chhabilal Joshi, a former Nepal Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG), was also arrested in relation to the Surya Darshan savings fraud. He was caught in Kathmandu.  

The extent of the alleged fraud is demonstrated by the current court cases and arrests, which involve well-known individuals and numerous cooperatives nationwide.