Ex-DIG held for ‘hand’ in coops fraud

Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak has ordered the immediate implementation of the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee’s report regarding the misappropriation of funds in cooperatives. On Sunday, Minister Lekhak instructed Inspector General of Nepal Police, Basant Bahadur Kunwar, to take action based on the report, which was recently sent to the relevant ministry for enforcement.

In a related development, former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Chabilal Joshi has been arrested in connection with the cooperative fraud case. According to sources at the police headquarters, Joshi was apprehended in Kathmandu shortly after the minister’s directive.

Joshi, identified as a former director of Gorkha Media Network Pvt Ltd, was named in the report of the inquiry committee led by Surya Thapa, which recommended action against four individuals, including Joshi. The Parliamentary Special Committee to Investigate Cooperative Funds has pinpointed Joshi as a central figure in the fraudulent activities, alleging that he played a significant role in withdrawing funds from various cooperatives under the guise of loans.

The inquiry report reveals that Gorkha Media Network was established with half of its investment from GB Rai and Joshi. Following previous business partnerships, Joshi reportedly reduced his 15 percent share, transferring it to Rabi Lamichhane. He is accused of securing loans amounting to Rs 25m from the Supreme Cooperative of Butwal and Rs 10.86m from Sano Paila Cooperative in Birgunj to fund his investment in Gorkha Media. Subsequently, Joshi is said to have distanced himself from Gorkha Media due to disagreements.

The inquiry committee has recommended prosecuting Rai, Kumar Ramtel, Lamichhane and Joshi in accordance with existing laws.

Ramtel, who was a business partner of Rai in various ventures, was involved with cooperatives such as Suryadarshan in Pokhara and Sano Paila in Birgunj. He later served as a director of Gorkha Media Network.

During his statement to the committee, he claimed that an artificial loan was taken in his name to cover a loan for Lamichhane. After Lamichhane departed from Galaxy, the loans under his name in the cooperatives were transferred to other cooperative owners.

Joshi made a statement similar to Ramtel’s, asserting that he did not pay the amount when he purchased the shares and did not receive any funds upon selling them. He also revealed that when he went to Nepal Bank to secure a loan for Galaxy Television, Rai told him, “I have already managed it from elsewhere.”

Former Home Minister Lamichhane reiterated his claim during the committee meeting, stating that he was not involved in taking loans from the cooperatives.