Pokhara: Former Home Minister and Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Rabi Lamichhane faced protests in Pokhara , where demonstrators raised black flags and shouted slogans against him. The protests occurred outside the Galaxy Banquet in Pokhara Metropolitan City-17, Biruta, where Lamichhane was attending his party's Gandaki state-level extended meeting.

The protests were led by members of the Suryadarshan Cooperative Society of Pokhara, who demanded the return of their savings, which had been lost in a significant cooperative fraud case. Due to the unrest, a heavy deployment of security personnel was mobilized around the venue to maintain order.

Lamichhane has been implicated in the Suryadarshan Savings and Credit Cooperative fraud case, which involves the embezzlement of NPR 1.35 billion of depositors' savings, affecting over 18,700 people. According to an investigation by the Pokhara Metropolitan City and the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Lamichhane allegedly took a loan of NPR 10 million from the cooperative. The investigation also linked him to Gitendra Babu Rai, the prime suspect in the case, who is currently on the run with an INTERPOL notice issued against him.

Additionally, Lamichhane's financial dealings at Galaxy Television, where he served before entering politics, have raised further controversy. His role in the financial mismanagement of both the cooperative and the media company has drawn significant public attention and criticism.

Despite claims of no ongoing legal cases against him, today's protests reflect growing frustration and concern over his involvement in financial irregularities.