Kathmandu, July 2
The Supreme Court will hold a hearing today on a petition demanding the suspension of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, who is implicated in a cooperative fraud case.
The petition, filed on May 27, calls for Lamichhane’s suspension to ensure an impartial investigation. The court is set to decide whether to issue an interim order to this effect.
Lawyers for the petitioner presented their arguments on June 21. However, due to the remaining arguments from Lamichhane’s defence, the bench of Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Saranga Subedi scheduled a continuation of the hearing for July 2.
Advocate Anupam Bhattarai, who filed the petition, argues that Lamichhane’s continued presence in office could unduly influence the investigation process. The petition seeks an interim order from the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers for his suspension.
The petition also questions the legal validity of a letter from the Office of the Attorney General stating that no fraud case had been filed against Lamichhane in Kaski, Rupandehi, and Chitwan. The letter has led to Attorney General Dinmani Pokharel being named as a respondent.
The petition claims that the letter undermines the Constitution, criminal law, and the justice system for cooperative savers, and requests the court to nullify it.
