KATHMANDU: The government has appointed Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) Dr Manoj Kumar KC as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Nepal Police.
A Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday decided to promote and appoint Dr KC to the top police post with effect from the same day, in accordance with Rule 41 of the Police Regulations, 2071 BS.
According to Government Spokesperson and Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel, the Cabinet also decided to establish a new position of Special Security Adviser to the Prime Minister at the IGP level within the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
The newly created position is intended to provide the Prime Minister with security-related advice, recommendations and consultations to strengthen the country’s peace and security system in the current context.
Outgoing IGP Dan Bahadur Karki has been appointed to the newly created position. Minister Pokharel said Dr KC was appointed to lead Nepal Police following Karki’s transfer to the advisory role.
Manoj KC, the 31st Inspector General of Nepal Police, is a senior police officer known for his professional experience, leadership and expertise in criminal investigations.
Throughout his career, he has been involved in investigating several complex, sensitive and high-profile criminal cases, contributing to law enforcement and the country’s security system.
His professional record includes a strong focus on impartial investigations, adherence to the rule of law and action against organised criminal groups.
His appointment comes at a time when the government has also restructured its security advisory arrangements at the Prime Minister’s Office.
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KC gained national prominence for his role in pushing forward the investigation into the fake Bhutanese refugee scam while serving as chief of the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office.
The investigation had remained stalled for an extended period before KC took steps to revive the case. On March 26, 2023, police arrested three suspects—Keshav Dulal, Tanka Gurung and Sanu Bhandari—following a complaint filed under his leadership. The three were allegedly involved in a racket that deceived Nepali youths into paying large sums of money by promising to send them to the United States under the identity of Bhutanese refugees. Their arrests gave fresh momentum to the investigation.
The probe subsequently expanded to include organised crime charges, leading to the arrest of several high-profile individuals, including former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and then Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey.
KC was serving as a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) when the scam investigation gained momentum. A police team under his command was deployed to arrest Nepali Congress leader Khand from his residence.
The arrest operation reportedly strained relations between KC and the Nepali Congress leadership. During the period when the party was in government, KC was not assigned several key positions.
On August 21, 2023, as investigators prepared to launch the second phase of the fake Bhutanese refugee scam investigation, the then government removed KC from his investigative responsibilities.
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