Kathmandu: The Supreme Court has upheld the decision of the Butwal bench of the High Court, Tulsipur, to keep Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane in custody.
A joint bench of Justices Dr. Nahkul Subedi and Bal Krishna Dhakal issued the ruling today following a hearing on a habeas corpus petition filed by Lamichhane’s wife, Nikita Poudel, demanding his release.
The court order stated: “As the detention order issued on 2081/12/22 by the Butwal bench, placing Rabi Lamichhane and Chhabilal Joshi in custody for further investigation, does not appear illegal, there is no reason to annul it. The legal process should continue accordingly.”
Lamichhane, who is also a former Home Minister, is currently in pre-trial detention at Bhairahawa Prison in Rupandehi in connection with the Supreme Cooperative fraud case.