KATHMANDU, Jan 21: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has instructed the concerned police department to furnish the file related to the investigation of misappropriation of the finances of several cooperatives by Gitendra Babu (GB) Rai, the chairman of Gorkha Media Group, and Rabi Lamichhane, the former managing director of the company and current chairman of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). A CIB officer stated that the file of the ongoing investigation at the police office outside the valley has been sent to Kathmandu for further investigation.
It is alleged that GB Rai's group misappropriated over Rs 1.35 billion from the Pokhara-based Suryadarshan Saving and Credit Cooperative. The case was investigated by the District Police Office in Kaski and is currently sub judice in court. In this case, RSP Chairman Lamichhane is accused of embezzling funds by obtaining loans without collateral.
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The CIB has also demanded for the investigation files from the local police involving cases of Supreme Saving and Credit in Butwal, Sahara Chitwan Multi-Purpose Cooperative Ltd in Chitwan, and Sano Paila Saving and Credit Co-operative Ltd in Birgunj. It is alleged that Lamichhane and Rai misappropriated cooperative funds by transferring them into the Gorkha Media Network’s account.
Rai and Lamichhane are also accused of being involved in the Swarnalaxmi Saving and Credit Co-operative scam in Kathmandu. Preliminary investigation by the police revealed that Rs 10 million of Supreme Saving and Credit was transferred to the account of Gorkha Media Network on behalf of Lamichhane.
Police's preliminary investigation has concluded that Rs 250 million of depositors’ money have been embezzled by Sahara Chitwan Multi-Purpose Cooperative Ltd of Chitwan.
Earlier, a complaint was also registered against Rai and Lamichhane with the Department of Cooperatives. Yuvraj Safal filed a complaint on behalf of the Nepali citizens demanding necessary investigation and action against Rai and Lamichhane in the cooperative fraud case.
