Fourteen, including Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Bal Krishna Khand, convicted in fake Bhutanese refugee scam

The Kathmandu District Court has convicted 14 people in connection with a fake Bhutanese refugee scam. Among those found guilty are former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and former home minister Balkrishna Khand. The court's decision marks a significant development in a case that has implicated high-profile political figures.

The court determined that the convicted individuals engaged in organized fraud and committed offenses against the state. This ruling follows an investigation into a scheme that allegedly involved creating fake Bhutanese refugee identities to facilitate illegal immigration and financial gain. The scam has cast a shadow over Nepal's political landscape.

While 14 individuals were convicted, the court acquitted seven others, including Ram Sharan KC and Tanka Kumar Gurung. Proceedings against defendants who are currently absconding have been suspended and will resume once they are apprehended. The court's order specified that those convicted acted as accomplices in crimes against the state, highlighting the severity of the charges.