Butwal, Aug. 12 -- The Rupandehi District Court on Monday refused to release Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair Rabi Lamichhane from judicial custody.

A single bench of Judge Narayan Prasad Sapkota, following a hearing on Lamichhane's petition seeking release upon submitting a bank guarantee equivalent to the amount attributed to him in the case, refused to let him out.

Lamichhane, who has been in Rupandehi prison since April 4, filed the petition on August 4. He also submitted bank security worth Rs27.4 million along with his application.

Former home minister Lamichhane was sent to judicial custody in April on charges of embezzling millions of rupees deposited by the general public at the Butwal-based Supreme Savings and Credit Coop...