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🇳🇵 Nepal /Crime & Justice

Nepal court begins hearings in fake refugee scam case

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A court in Nepal has begun hearings in a high-profile fake refugee scam case, nearly three years after charges were filed against former ministers and officials.
  • The scandal involves an alleged network that defrauded hundreds of Nepalis with false promises of resettlement in the United States, using forged government documents.
  • The case, one of Nepal's largest corruption cases, has seen delays due to procedural issues and a fire that damaged court records, but continuous hearings have now commenced.

The Kathmandu District Court has initiated continuous hearings in the extensive fake Bhutanese refugee scam, a case that has implicated former ministers and senior government officials. Prosecutors filed charges nearly three years ago, accusing a network of defrauding hundreds of Nepalis with false promises of resettlement in the United States.

The case has now entered continuous hearing.

— Shiva KhatiwadaInformation officer at the Kathmandu District Court, confirming the start of uninterrupted proceedings.

The scandal, considered one of Nepal's most significant corruption and organized crime cases, allegedly involved exploiting state institutions and forging official documents. The network is accused of collecting millions of rupees from citizens by falsely promising them spots on refugee lists for resettlement in the U.S.

Although the case was filed three years ago, substantive hearings have only now begun.

— Shiva KhatiwadaInformation officer at the Kathmandu District Court, highlighting the long delay before substantive hearings commenced.

Investigators uncovered alleged involvement from politicians, bureaucrats, security officials, and middlemen. Charges of fraud, forgery, organized crime, and crimes against the state were filed against 30 defendants, including former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and former home minister Bal Krishna Khand. The case has faced delays, including procedural motions and a fire that damaged court records in September 2025, but continuous hearings are now underway, marking a significant step toward resolution.

The start of continuous hearings marked a significant step towards concluding a case that ha

— Santosh KatuwalGovernment attorney, commenting on the importance of the continuous hearings in moving the case forward.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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