Supreme Cooperative Fraud Case: Claimed NPR 841 million and filed a case against Ravi and Chhabi at Rupandehi District Court
Butwal, nevertheless - The Area Police Office in Butwal is prepared to file a lawsuit on Thursday at the Rupandehi District Court against Rabi Lamichhane, head of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, and 14 others, alleging damages of NPR 1.12 billion. A case against 28 people in the same regard had earlier been registered.
The District Government Attorney's Office claims the accusations cover organized crime, cooperative fraud, and money laundering. Of the overall claims, NPR 41.3 million has been sought from Rabi Lamichhane and NPR 42.8 million from Chhabilal Joshi. Originally, 28 people—including Gitendra Babu Rai—were accused of embezzling money from Supreme Cooperative.
The police sent two over 400 page reports to the District Government Attorney's Office on Friday. Premraj Paudel, an advocate at the office, claimed that documents are now under examination, and the lawsuit would be registered soon. "We are in the final stages of preparation and plan to file the case today," he said. Based on the first allegations and additional complaints, the police have advised charges against 42 people total—including Rabi and Chhabilal. The additional report was created after specific complaints were submitted against Rabi and Chhabilal on September 21.
According to sources, the study indicates Rabi Lamichhane has personal culpability for NPR 20 million and shared liability for NPR 21.3 million, totaling NPR 41.3 million. Likewise, Chhabilal Joshi is accused of shared obligation for NPR 17.8 million and personal culpability for NPR 25 million, therefore accounting for NPR 42.8 million. Following service charge deduction of NPR 400,000, it was discovered that NPR 20 million was paid into Lamichhane's account from Supreme Cooperative. The police report includes invoices showing NPR 20 million as personal liability and the remainder as joint liability. On April 1, 2021, NPR 20 million was placed into Lamichhane’s account at Global IME Bank. The deposit was approved by Supreme Cooperative's manager Sagar KC, and the transaction was executed by Supreme’s employee Roshani Gurung in Lamichhane’s name.
