Kathmandu: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President and former Deputy Prime Minister Rabi Lamichhane will remain in detention after the Supreme Court on Friday rejected a habeas corpus petition filed on his behalf.

A joint bench of Justices Nahakul Subedi and Bal Krishna Dhakal upheld the decision of the Butwal bench of the Tulsipur High Court, which had ordered Lamichhane to be kept in judicial custody pending trial in connection with the Supreme Cooperative fraud case.

The habeas corpus writ had been filed by Lamichhane’s wife Nikita Poudel on April 20, requesting his immediate release. However, the apex court concluded that the High Court's decision was legally sound and required no intervention.

Lamichhane is currently detained at Rupandehi Jail as investigations continue into his alleged involvement in a large-scale financial scam linked to Butwal-based Supreme Cooperative, which is accused of defrauding hundreds of depositors.

The ruling deals a significant legal and political blow to Lamichhane, who has claimed innocence and alleged political targeting. With the Supreme Court’s decision, the case is set to move forward with Lamichhane in custody.