KATHMANDU: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has recommended issuing red notices against two individuals accused of misappropriating funds from Lalitpur’s Miteri Saving and Credit Cooperative.
The cooperative, located in Mahalaxmisthan, Lalitpur, is under investigation for the embezzlement of Rs 148.1 million in savings.
The CIB has called for red notices against Jyoti Gurung, the ex-wife of Nepali Congress Vice President Dhanraj Gurung, and Jyoti Bahadur Bhandari from Bardia, both implicated in the cooperative fraud. However, Dhanraj Gurung has yet to be brought under investigation, as he and Jyoti Gurung divorced.
However, there are suspicions that the two parted ways in an attempt to shield assets.
Interestingly, the investigation has revealed that even after the divorce, Dhanraj paid off a loan to the cooperative. Investigations found that Dhanraj received Rs 9.2 million from Min Bahadur Gurung, the owner of Bhatbhateni Supermarket, to settle this loan, but no investigation against him has proceeded so far.
An arrest warrant has also been issued by the court against Jyoti Gurung, Jyoti Bahadur Bhandari, Sujan Shakya, Hitman Thapa, and Prakash Yadav for their involvement in the misappropriation of the cooperative’s funds.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress MP and former minister Dhanraj Gurung has argued that he had no involvement in the co-operative fraud case and that he cannot be blamed for the mistakes made by his ex-wife.
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