Victims of the Supreme Cooperative protest in front of the Rupandehi District Court

Victims of the Supreme Cooperative on Tuesday staged a protest outside the Rupandehi District Court demanding the return of their savings and filing a case against those involved in the misappropriation of funds.

The protest coincided with a statement by former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and former Gorkha Media Network director Chabilal Joshi, one of the accused, to the District Attorney’s Office.

According to Vijay Nepal, coordinator of the Supreme Cooperative Committee against Victims, the victims initially planned to demonstrate outside the district attorney’s office, but after police intervention they moved the protest about 50 meters towards the court.

The protesters, holding placards and black banners, accused KS Sagar, manager of the cooperative’s Butwal branch, and chairman Gitendra Babu (GB) Rai of fleeing under political protection. Police did not allow protesters to approach the government office, and Netra Budha, police inspector of Bhairahawa district, urged them to refrain from protesting, citing the ongoing investigation.

Demonstrators called for the return of their savings, action against cooperative fraud and the arrest of K.S. and Paradise. They also alleged that political connections covered Joshi, Rabbi Lamikhan and Raya.

Joshi, who was in Pokhara custody pending investigation, was brought to Butwal on Monday to testify in the embezzlement case. The investigation revealed that nearly Rs 150 million from the Supreme Multipurpose Cooperative Society funds were transferred to the accounts of Gorkha Media Network.