May 16, Kathmandu- The Pokhara High Court has moved forward the hearing of the petition filed by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane and former DIG Chhabilal Joshi on a 'watchful eye' basis. On Friday, a bench of Chief Justice Ratna Bahadur Bagchand and Justice Milan Rai also ordered to inform Lamichhane and Joshi that the petition filed on a 'Under Review' basis is being heard.

"Considering the context in which the learned senior legal practitioners on behalf of the respondents, Rabi Lamichhane and Chhabilal Joshi, have informed that the respondents are currently detained at the Prison Office in Rupandehi in connection with other petitions, the information of the hearing should be sent to Rabi and Chhabilal through the concerned Prison Office through expeditious means and the hearing should be continued in the case of the petitioners, respondents Aarti Gurung, Meena Gurung, Ram Bahadur Khanal, Leela Pachhai and Krishna Bahadur Gurung, and the report should be submitted as per the rules, as per the schedule of the hearing on 4th Jestha," the order said.

The Kaski District Court had ordered a bail date for Lamichhane and Joshi on charges of fraud against Surya Darshan Savings and Loan Cooperative, demanding a bail of Rs 6.5 million from Lamichhane and Rs 8.8 million from Joshi. Lamichhane and Joshi had filed a petition in the Pokhara High Court demanding the cancellation of the district court's order to keep them in custody, against the order. The government attorney, on the other hand, has filed a petition seeking an order to cancel the district court's order and send them to prison.