A hearing has been scheduled for April 23 for the writ petition challenging the then-attorney general’s decision to amend the charges of money laundering and organized crime against Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane.
According to Joint Registrar Arjun Prasad Koirala, spokesperson for the Supreme Court, the hearing will take place before a full bench.
On March 29, a bench comprising Justices Binod Sharma and Abdul Aziz Musalman had ordered the case to be referred to a full bench. However, the bench had not been set a date for hearing at that time.
Law student Ayush Badal then filed an application requesting an expedited hearing.
The bench of Justices Sharma and Musalman had ordered the case to be sent to a full bench, noting that eight questions required interpretation. A full bench consists of three or more justices.
Then-attorney general Sabita Bhandari had decided on January 14 to amend the charges of money laundering and organized crime filed against Lamichhane. However, two days later, a decision was made to amend the charges of money laundering and organized crime against all defendants, citing correction of an error.
This decision also included the amendment of charges against other defendants, including the fugitive GB Rai. Following Attorney General Bhandari's decision, three separate writ petitions were filed at the Supreme Court.
