Rabi Lamichhane Transferred to Nakkhu Prison from Rupandehi

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair and former Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, who is in judicial custody on charges related to cooperative fraud, has been transferred from Rupandehi Prison to Nakkhu Prison in Lalitpur.

Lamichhane, who was arrested in Kathmandu on April 4, 2025 (Chaitra 22, 2081 B.S.), had been kept in Block No. 4 of Rupandehi Prison. He was moved to Nakkhu on Saturday following a decision by Prison Management Department Director-General Lila Prasad Sharma, who assumed office just a day earlier.

Lamichhane had filed a request for transfer with the Rupandehi District Court on May 27, 2025 (Jestha 14, 2082 B.S.), which the court approved on May 30 (Jestha 16). Initially, he had sought transfer to Dillibazar Prison, but in a supplementary petition submitted on August 12 (Shrawan 28), he requested relocation to Nakkhu instead.

Complaints Over Transfer Delay

Despite his petitions, Lamichhane had repeatedly complained that he was still being kept in Rupandehi. During an inspection visit to the prison earlier this week, a delegation led by National Human Rights Commission member Lily Thapa confirmed that Lamichhane had raised grievances about the delay in his transfer.

On Thursday, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak told the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee of Parliament that the government was taking the issue seriously.

According to Nepal’s prison regulations, inmates may be transferred if they are ill, face multiple cases in different districts, pose security risks, or request relocation closer to their home. Following due process, Rupandehi Prison completed the procedures on Saturday, and Lamichhane was flown to Kathmandu. Nakkhu Prison Administrator Bhima Raj Niraula said he has been placed in a separate cell.

Legal Battles Continue

Lamichhane’s legal troubles stem from the Supreme Cooperative fraud case based in Butwal. On January 26, 2025 (Magh 13, 2081 B.S.), the Rupandehi District Court had initially ordered his release on bail of NPR 10 million. However, after an appeal, the Butwal bench of the High Court Tulsipur sent him to judicial custody on April 4 (Chaitra 22). The decision was later upheld by the Supreme Court.

Recently, Lamichhane petitioned the District Court for release by depositing restitution related to the fraud case. The court, however, rejected his request, stating that the exact restitution amount had not yet been determined and that the Supreme Court had already finalized the matter of custody.

In addition to Rupandehi, Lamichhane faces multiple cooperative fraud and organized crime cases in Kathmandu, Kaski, Chitwan, and Parsa District Courts. He is also charged with money laundering in Kaski, which has led to the suspension of his parliamentary seat.