KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hold a preliminary hearing today on the habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane, who is currently in judicial custody in a cooperative fraud case.
The petition, registered on Sunday by his wife Nikita Poudel, claims that Lamichhane is being unlawfully detained and demands his immediate release. Supreme Court administration confirmed that the case has been listed for hearing before a single bench.
Lamichhane is being held at the Rupandehi District Prison following a legal back-and-forth over his custody status. He was initially granted release by the Rupandehi District Court on a bail of Rs 10 million in connection with the Supreme Cooperative fraud and organized crime case.
However, the Butwal bench of the Tulsipur High Court overturned that decision on Chaitra 22, 2081 B.S. (April 4, 2025), ordering his detention for pre-trial proceedings.
Prior to the habeas corpus plea, Lamichhane had already filed a separate petition at the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s order that led to his detention. On Chaitra 31, 2081 B.S. (April 13, 2025), the Supreme Court had directed both the High Court and the District Court to submit case documents.
