Kathmandu: Former home minister and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane has been arrested in connection to cooperative fraud case.

A team of the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police led by SP Habindra Bogati arrested Lamichhane from the party office Friday after the Kaski District Court issued an arrest warrant in the name of Lamichhane and 13 others on request of the Kaski Police earlier on the day.

The other persons who had arrest warrant issued in their name include promoters and chief executive officers (CEO) of companies that took loans from Suryadarshan Cooperative of Pokhara illegally, according to the police.

Addressing RSP cadres at the party office before being arrested Lamichhane claimed that the leaders of big parties had agreed to arrest him at any cost after formation of the new coalition of Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML.

Rabi Lamichhane can be areested : Prachanda Said that on the meeting of the opposition parties of Nepal
The arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane was discussed in the meeting of opposition parties called by the Chairman of CPN Maoist Center Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda to discuss contemporary issues. In the meeting, Prachanda had informed that Ravi Lamichhane, Chairman of Rastriya Swatantra Party RSWP, may be arrested.

Chairman of CPN Maoist Center Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda also gave a briefing that the Chairman Lamichhane is ready to be arrested. On Thursday only, Prachanda had a meeting with Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli and Chairman of Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Based on the meeting, Prachanda said that Ravi Lamichhane may be arrested. Lamichhane, who agreed to Prachanda's briefing, asked for the opposition's support, stating that he was aware of the possibility of arrest.

Rajendra Pandey, the vice-president of CPN United Socialists, said that the parties are serious about issuing arrest warrants on the pretext of co-operative fraud.