AFP :
Nepali police fired water cannons and tear gas on Sunday at thousands of protesters loyal to a former deputy premier once seen as a rising political star, as he appeared in court on charges his supporters say are politically motivated.
Rabi Lamichhane faces charges of fraud and organized crime related to the alleged embezzlement of funds from a financial cooperative prior to his entry into politics, a case that has garnered national attention.
Lamichhane rejects the charges, which his angry supporters say were trumped up. Lamichhane is well known for his career as a television host in the Himalayan republic, making his name as an anti-corruption crusader through aggressive interviews with public officials.
He shot to political power in November 2022 with his Rastriya Swatantra Party tapping into widespread discontent at Nepal’s elderly political leadership, becoming the deputy premier and interior minister.