Kathmandu: Ravi Lamichhane, the Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and former director of Gorkha Media Network, is now facing serious accusations involving three major crimes. Authorities are conducting an investigation into allegations of cooperative fraud, forgery, and involvement in organized crime. If these charges are proven, Lamichhane could face a minimum prison sentence of 7 years.

Lamichhane was arrested on Friday evening in Kathmandu under charges of cooperative fraud. He is accused of embezzling the savings of 18,750 members of the Suryadarshan Cooperative, and police are preparing to present the case at the Kaski District Court. The alleged embezzlement involved significant amounts of money from the cooperative’s funds, affecting a large number of ordinary citizens who had entrusted their savings.

The three main charges against Lamichhane include:

1. Cooperative Fraud: Lamichhane allegedly misappropriated public savings from the Suryadarshan Cooperative. If found guilty under the Cooperative Act of 2074, he could face a prison term of 6 to 8 years, along with fines.

2. Forgery: Lamichhane is also accused of using forged documents to facilitate the embezzlement of funds. According to the Muluki Criminal Code, those found guilty of forgery face up to 7 years in prison and a fine of up to NPR 70,000.

3. Organized Crime: The allegations also include Lamichhane’s involvement in organized crime, suggesting a coordinated effort to defraud the cooperative. If proven guilty, an additional 50% of the original sentence may be added, significantly increasing his potential prison term.

Authorities are currently finalizing their investigation, preparing to submit their findings to the court. If Lamichhane is convicted on all three counts, he faces a definite minimum sentence of 7 years, which could increase further due to the severity of the organized crime charge.

Ravi Lamichhane