In a major legal and political development in Nepal, the Supreme Court has upheld the Butwal High Court’s order to keep former Home Minister and President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rabi Lamichhane, in custody in connection with the Supreme Cooperative fraud case. Along with Lamichhane, former DIG Chhabilal Joshi is also in pretrial detention. However, reaching this legal milestone was far from easy — it took the bold and relentless efforts of a few courageous lawyers.

Senior advocates Dinesh Tripathi, Surendra Bhandari, and Ram Chandra RC Gautam led a powerful legal campaign against Lamichhane. Tripathi and Bhandari, known for their longstanding commitment to the rule of law, democracy, and human rights, played key roles. In court, they presented strong evidence implicating Lamichhane in the cooperative scam.

But standing up for justice came at a high price. On Wednesday, January 17, 2025, RSP supporters physically assaulted senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi on the premises of the Kathmandu District Court. The guerrilla-style attack raised serious concerns about the independence of Nepal’s legal profession and judiciary. Under intense public backlash, the RSP distanced itself from the incident, claiming it was not an official party act.

Meanwhile, in a hearing on May 22, 2025, a joint bench of Justices Dr. Nahkul Subedi and Bal Krishna Dhakal rejected Lamichhane’s bail request, citing nine grounds for continued detention. These include his direct involvement in managing Gorkha Media from the start, evidence of a Rs. 20 million loan from the Supreme Cooperative, false denial of knowledge about the loan, participation in financial transactions, using cooperative funds to buy shares, continued involvement in the company even after officially leaving it, acknowledgment of his role by other accused individuals, and his implausible claim of not knowing about repeated deposits into company accounts.

The assault on Tripathi and the pressures faced by other lawyers underscore the serious risks and challenges confronting legal professionals in Nepal. Despite personal threats, these advocates stood firmly for justice. Their evidence-based and legally sound arguments helped bring the truth of the Lamichhane case to light.

The Supreme Court's ruling sends a powerful message: Nepal’s judiciary remains independent and committed to the rule of law. These fearless lawyers’ efforts have reaffirmed public belief that justice can prevail over political interference, violence, and intimidation. Ultimately, this case reinforces the hope that truth and integrity will triumph — no matter how powerful the opponent.

Rabi Lamichhane Dinesh Tripathi Surendra Bhandari