Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Attorney General’s decision to withdraw serious charges, including organized crime and money laundering, against Ravi Lamichhane, chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).
On Friday, law students Yubaraj Paudel (Safal) and Ayush Badal filed separate writ petitions. Safal stated that after studying the decision, he believes it to be illegal.
The petitions seek to invalidate Attorney General Sabita Bhandari’s decision dated Poush 30, to prevent weakening of serious charges like organized crime and money laundering, and request an interim order to halt implementation of the decision until the case is finally resolved.
Attorney General Bhandari had approved, based on Lamichhane’s request, amendments under Section 36 of the Muluki Criminal Procedure Code, 2074, allowing modification of charges. According to the decision, while maintaining charges related to cooperative fraud and other fraud, the claims of money laundering and organized crime were to be removed and cases filed in various district courts, including Kaski, Rupandehi, Kathmandu, Parsa, and Chitwan.
Lamichhane had petitioned the Attorney General, claiming that the prosecution against him was politically motivated.
About the Author
