Red Corner Notice issued against Dhorpatan Mayor for alleged cooperative fraud

GALKOT, BAGLUNG: A ‘Red Corner Notice’ has been issued against the Mayor of Dhorpatan Municipality in Baglung, Devkumar Nepali, who has been on the run after embezzling funds of Image Savings and Credit Cooperative.

Mayor Nepali has been the founder chairperson of the Cooperative.

The District Police Office in Baglung issued the notice in coordination with the INTERPOL, after Nepali absconded with over NPR 1.5 billion collected from cooperative depositors.

Mayor Nepali and his family went out of contact since May 19, from Burtibang Bazaar. They allegedly misappropriated the funds collected from cooperative savings in Galkot, Burtibang, and Pokhara through branch offices.

In order to initiate the search for Nepali, who is suspected to be abroad, the INTERPOL was requested to issue a ‘Red Corner Notice’.

Approximately 1,481 depositors, including cooperative shareholders and depositors, have registered complaints against the cooperative management.

Initial investigations reveal that the cooperative, operating in Baglung alone, had collected funds amounting to over NPR 1.5 billion from 800 shareholders and 2,200 depositors.

“Red Corner Notices are issued in coordination with security personnel of member countries worldwide to apprehend individuals involved in crimes,” explained DSP Madan KC, another official at the District Police Office. “Even if they are abroad, we aim to apprehend and bring them back to Nepal to recover the depositors’ funds.”

Complaints against 11, including Mayor Nepali, involved in the cooperative fraud, were registered at the District Court in Baglung on July 10.

After Mayor Nepali went out of contact, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police urged the District Police Office to investigate the case further.

They also requested to elevate the investigation against Deputy Chairperson Dor Bahadur Pariyar, Secretary Sunil Nepali, Treasurer Laxmi Sen, and Executive Members Rupa BK, and Jhag Bahadur Shahi.

The issuance of the ‘Red Corner Notice’ against Mayor Nepali is expected to aid in the international pursuit of bringing him back to Nepal to face charges and recover the embezzled funds.