BUTWAL, Aug 11 : The Rupandehi District Court has ordered Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane to remain in custody, rejecting his request for release on a bank guarantee.
The bench of Judge Narayan Prasad Sapkota ruled on Monday that Lamichhane could not be freed under Section 71 of the Criminal Procedure Code despite his submission of a Rs 27.48 million bank guarantee related to the Butwal Supreme Cooperative fraud case.
Lamichhane’s lawyers had earlier sought to postpone hearings twice. His supporters have launched a nationwide signature campaign, claiming his detention is politically motivated.
The Criminal Procedure Code allows pretrial detainees to be released on bail equal to the claimed loss, except in serious crimes, but the court determined that the conditions for Lamichhane’s release were not met.
