Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair and former home minister Rabi Lamichhane, who is currently in police custody under charges of cooperative frauds, organised crime, and money laundering, has been taken to Birgunj for further investigation.

Lamichhane, who was arrested on October 18 from RSP’s central office in Kathmandu, was initially taken to Kaski for questioning. On Monday, he was flown from Pokhara to Kathmandu and then to Simara and transported by road to Birgunj, where investigations into the case will continue.

In addition to Lamichhane, Chhabilal Joshi, another prominent figure and former deputy inspector general of Police, who is associated with the Gorkha Media Network, was also moved to Birgunj.

Joshi and Lamichhane are accused of embezzling funds from the Sanopaila Savings and Credit Cooperative in Birgunj.

Both Lamichhane and Joshi had previously been remanded in police custody after Kaski District Court extended their detention on Sunday by an additional four days for further investigation. Lamichhane’s detention has been repeatedly extended since his initial arrest, with previous remands ranging from 6 to 15 days.

Lamichhane and Joshi, among others, have been interrogated in Kaski, Rupandehi, Kathmandu and Chitwan as well on cooperative frauds.

Various reports of studies and probes conducted by police, special parliamentary probe panel, local governments and other agencies have found the involvement of RSP chief Lamichhane, Joshi and several other individuals in embezzling deposits of cooperatives based in Kathmandu, Kaski, Rupandehi, Chitwan and Birgunj.