KATHMANDU: In relation to the fake Bhutanese refugee scam, an additional eighteen individuals have submitted their applications to the police.

The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office of Nepal Police received three distinct complaints from a group of 18 victims, alleging forgery amounting to a total of Rs 18.59 million.

Before this recent development, a cumulative total of 115 individuals had already registered complaints with the police. Rabindra Regmi, Superintendent of Police at the Office, revealed that these 18 new victims hail from various districts including Lamjung, Sunsari, Sindhupalchowk, Gorkha, Lalitpur, Chitwan, and Kathmandu.

Their grievances revolve around allegations that individuals such as Sanu Bhandari and Keshav Dulal deceived them by falsely promising to facilitate their relocation to the United States under the pretense of being Bhutanese refugees.

In connection to this case, several arrests have been made. Among those apprehended are former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, ex-Home Minister Balkrishna Khand, former Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, and security advisor to the former Home Minister, Dr. Indrajeet Rai, along with other accomplices.

Furthermore, individuals linked to the scam who have also been detained include refugee leader Teknath Rijal, the Chairperson of Nepal Haj Committee, Samsher Minya, former lawmaker Angtawa Sherpa, personal secretary of the then Home Minister, Narendra KC, Sandip Rayamajhi (son of former Deputy Prime Minister Rayamajhi), Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sandesh Sharma, Sagar Rai, Tanka Gurung, Govinda Chaudhary, and Ram Sharan KC, among others.

Most of these individuals remain under police custody as the investigation continues.

However, Pratik, the son of former Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Niraj, the son of Indrajeet Rai, remain at large.