Three arrested over alleged Bal Mandir fraud

KATHMANDU: Police have arrested three individuals on charges of fraud linked to the Nepal Children’s Organization (Bal Mandir).

The arrests were made by the Central Investigation Bureau during an investigation into allegations that funds were irregularly withdrawn from the organization.

According to the bureau, the suspects were arrested on Thursday after obtaining permission from the Kathmandu District Court. The action was based on the findings of the 2020 High-Level Investigation Commission report and a police investigation.

Those arrested have been identified as Asha Shrestha, 54, the then chief of the Planning and Scholarship Section at Bal Mandir, Naxal; Om Krishna Karmacharya, 62, the then chairperson of the Lalitpur District Working Committee of the Nepal Children’s Organization; and Rajendra Kumar Shrestha, 51, the then secretary of the Kathmandu District Working Committee.

According to CIB spokesperson and Senior Superintendent of Police Anupam Shumsher Jabara, the Kathmandu District Court has granted an extension of their remand, and further investigation into the case is underway.