KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu police have arrested Chairperson of the Nepal Haj Committee Shamsher Miya in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.
He was apprehended from Singha Durbar today afternoon. Miya was arrested after his involvement was seen in the scam of sending Nepali people to the United States as Bhutanese refugees, said Senior Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Karki, chief of the District Police Range, Kathmandu.
Miya had made available a vehicle provided to the Haj Committee for the group involved in the racket, he said.
The jeep (Embossed vehicle number BAB-1405) under the brand of Nissan was found being used to facilitate the scam, according to the police.
The police have also taken the vehicle under control. Members of the racket would use the vehicle while travelling to various parts of the country like Sauraha of Chitwan district and Sundhara of Kathmandu in the name of taking interviews of their clients aspiring to go to the US, claimed the police.
The jeep under the ownership of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been registered with the Haj Committee.
Miya was absconding after the police launched investigations into the case, it has been said.
Meanwhile, police have arrested 14 people, including former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, and former Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, among others in the fake Bhutanese refugees scam so far.
They are in police custody.
The police have taken the statements of 13 people so far.
Former member of Nepali Congress Angtawa Sherpa’s statement is yet to be taken.
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