KATHMANDU: In the ongoing investigation into an organized fraud case involving high-ranking officials who purportedly facilitated the illegal migration of Nepali citizens to the United States under the guise of Bhutanese refugees, the police have concluded the statements of five individuals. Subsequently, the District Police Range Kathmandu is intensifying its efforts to gather additional evidence based on further complaints.

The police have recorded statements from former parliamentarian Angtawa Sherpa and intermediaries Sanu Bhandari, Keshav Dulal, Ram Sharan KC, and Sagar Rai. Notably, none of them have implicated any high-ranking officials in their statements. In the initial phase of the investigation, all five individuals were detained and are awaiting trial. An officer from the Kathmandu complex revealed that, although these five have been accused of fraud, they have refrained from naming the high-ranking officials involved. Nevertheless, the police are diligently pursuing other technical avenues to uncover the truth.

“Their reluctance to name high-ranking officials may be due to influence from their superiors,” explained the officer. “Nonetheless, we are employing alternative investigative methods.” Sources suggest that pressure may be exerted on the police to safeguard the high-ranking officials implicated in the ongoing second phase of the investigation. In the initial phase, not only did the accused provide statements, but they also furnished evidence. Sanu Bhandari, in particular, provided significant information. Concerns are mounting that the investigation may be compromised if additional individuals are not implicated this time. In this second phase, 18 people have been charged.

Previously, cases were filed on counts of organized crime, crimes against the state, fraud, and forgery. It remains undecided which charges will be pursued based on the new complaints. Earlier, in an attempt to influence the investigation, the government removed the head of the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office and the District Police Complex, Kathmandu. Notably, the police have displayed limited interest in locating the absconding suspects connected to this case.

Former ministers Balkrishna Khand and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, as well as former home secretary Teknarayan Pandey, Indrajit Rai, former parliamentarian Angtawa Sherpa, Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rijal, former chairman of the Hajj committee Shumsher Mian, are currently incarcerated. Additionally, Mines’ personal secretary Narendra KC, Top Bahadur’s son Sandeep, intermediaries Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sandesh Sharma, Ramsharan KC, Govinda Chaudhary, Haribhakta Maharjan, and Sagar Rai are also in custody. They have filed an appeal with the High Court against the District Court’s decision. Of the 30 individuals implicated in this case, 11 remain at large.

Financial transactions with share purchase papers used for money recovery

The police have claimed that an amount of Rs 10 million was returned once the investigation against former Home Minister Khand commenced. The money was returned to Sanu Bhandari through former lawmaker Sherpa. However, Sherpa reportedly retained 7 million rupees for himself, forwarding only 3 million rupees to Bhandari. The repayment of the money involved the creation of documents related to the purchase and sale of Hydro shares. Krishna Paudel has been made a witness in this incident, the sources claimed. Similar documents were reportedly created on May 6, 2023, and WhatsApp chats concerning financial transactions have also been discovered, pointing to financial dealings between then Home Secretary Pandey and Dulal.