Kathmandu – The Kathmandu District Court has ordered the release of Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane on a bail amount of NPR 6 million in connection to the Kalimati Swarnalaxmi Cooperative embezzlement case.

Following extensive arguments since last Sunday, a single bench led by Judge Madhav Prasad Adhikari issued the bail order. Lamichhane was previously arrested on November 18 on charges of misusing cooperative funds and channeling them into Gorkha Media Network Pvt. Ltd.

The case involves allegations of embezzling NPR 1.19 billion from 690 depositors of the Swarnalaxmi Multipurpose Cooperative Institution. The Kathmandu District Police Office, after completing its investigation, recommended filing charges against Lamichhane and 39 others on January 5, which led to the prosecution by the government attorney’s office.

Earlier, on Thursday, the Kaski District Court had also ordered Lamichhane's release on a bail of NPR 6.5 million in another related case. With these decisions, Lamichhane is required to deposit a total of NPR 12.5 million in bail.