<p>Ten people have contacted the Nepal police citing they were fleeced of Rs 51.9 million under the pretext of taking them to the United States and registering them as Bhutanese refugees. This came a week after when Nepal Police arrested absconding lawmaker Bahadur Rayamajhi from the outskirts of Kathmandu in a fake Bhutanese refugee scam.</p>

<p>The scam has sent shockwaves throughout the country, exposing a sophisticated network of corruption and deception involving political leaders.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far 113 people have come in contact with the Nepal Police who have registered complaints identifying the cheaters claiming they have been cheated of more than Rs 50 million under this scam.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-tim-scott-businessman-only-black-republican-in-senate-launches-2024-us-presidential-bid-595424">Who is Tim Scott, the only Black Senate Republican who launched 2024 US Presidential bid?</a></p>

<p>A report prepared by the District Police Range, Kathamandu, mentions that more than Rs 270 million of fraud has been committed by the people involved in this racket.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Initially, a complaint was lodged at the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office saying that Rs 130 million of fraud had been committed by 81 people. The office then handed over the file along with the arrested persons to District Police Range Kathmandu for further investigation and action.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Till date, the police have arrested 16 people involved with the scam and are investigating the case. The police started arresting the accused on March 26.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the Bhutanese Refugees Scam?</strong></h2>

<p>The Bhutanese Refugees Scam is a fraud scheme that lured over 800 people out of millions of rupees by giving them fictitious documents in the name of asylum seekers from Bhutan. These asylum seekers were qualified for resettlement in other countries. This complex plan was executed by a political-bureaucratic network with the help of several intermediaries.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>This scandal is a blot on Nepal’s political and administrative structures which are already tainted by corruption. The former home secretary of Nepal, Tek Narayan Pandey has also been detained on allegations of accepting payments worth millions of rupees.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Nepal’s history of Bhutanese refugees</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The tiny landlocked country in South Asia, Bhutan, has struggled for years with a refugee crisis. The government’s efforts to preserve Bhutanese culture led to the forcible eviction of thousands of Lhotshampas (individuals of Nepali heritage) from Bhutan in the late 1980s. These people applied for asylum in nearby nations, specifically Nepal, which took in the most Bhutanese refugees.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How the scam was unveiled?</strong></h2>

<p>The Bhutanese Refugees Scam was unveiled when more than 160 victims claimed that a network had cheated them of a substantial amount of money while promising to furnish them with fraudulent credentials identifying them as refugees from Bhutan. These people were promised by the con artists that they would be qualified for repatriation to other nations, including the USA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch |&nbsp;<strong>Nepal's former member of the Parliament arrested as fake Bhutanese refugee camp scam rocks&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>Soon after this, nationwide outrage followed the revelations that prominent political party officials had promised Nepali individuals false identities as Bhutanese refugees in exchange for millions of dollars.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Arrests till now under the scam</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>On May 10, former Home Minister and Nepali Congress politician Bal Krishna Khand were detained at his home in Nepal for his involvement in the trafficking of Nepali individuals as Bhutanese refugees overseas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After this, the absconding lawmaker Top Bahadur Rayamajhi was also arrested after he tried to dodge the police for many weeks.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Niraj Rai, the son of Indrajit Rai, who worked as the security advisor to then-Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, has also been arrested as a suspect in the suspected trafficking operation.</p>

<p>Indrajit Rai, Thapa's former security advisor, has already been arrested, as have former Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, Sandeep Rayamajhi, Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Tanka Gurung, Sandesh Sharma Pokhrel, and Sagar Thulung.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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Ten people have contacted the Nepal police citing they were fleeced of Rs 51.9 million under the pretext of taking them to the United States and registering them as Bhutanese refugees.

Ten people have contacted the Nepal police citing they were fleeced of Rs 51.9 million under the pretext of taking them to the United States and registering them as Bhutanese refugees. This came a week after when Nepal Police arrested absconding lawmaker Bahadur Rayamajhi from the outskirts of Kathmandu in a fake Bhutanese refugee scam. The scam has sent shockwaves throughout the country, exposing a sophisticated network of corruption and deception involving political leaders. So far 113 people have come in contact with the Nepal Police who have registered complaints identifying the cheaters claiming they have been cheated of more than Rs 50 million under this scam. Also Read | Who is Tim Scott, the only Black Senate Republican who launched 2024 US Presidential bid? A report prepared by the District Police Range, Kathamandu, mentions that more than Rs 270 million of fraud has been committed by the people involved in this racket. Initially, a complaint was lodged at the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office saying that Rs 130 million of fraud had been committed by 81 people. The office then handed over the file along with the arrested persons to District Police Range Kathmandu for further investigation and action. Till date, the police have arrested 16 people involved with the scam and are investigating the case. The police started arresting the accused on March 26. What is the Bhutanese Refugees Scam? The Bhutanese Refugees Scam is a fraud scheme that lured over 800 people out of millions of rupees by giving them fictitious documents in the name of asylum seekers from Bhutan. These asylum seekers were qualified for resettlement in other countries. This complex plan was executed by a political-bureaucratic network with the help of several intermediaries. Also Read | At least two Ukrainians blew up Nord Stream pipelines: German media This scandal is a blot on Nepal’s political and administrative structures which are already tainted by corruption. The former home secretary of Nepal, Tek Narayan Pandey has also been detained on allegations of accepting payments worth millions of rupees. Nepal’s history of Bhutanese refugees The tiny landlocked country in South Asia, Bhutan, has struggled for years with a refugee crisis. The government’s efforts to preserve Bhutanese culture led to the forcible eviction of thousands of Lhotshampas (individuals of Nepali heritage) from Bhutan in the late 1980s. These people applied for asylum in nearby nations, specifically Nepal, which took in the most Bhutanese refugees. How the scam was unveiled? The Bhutanese Refugees Scam was unveiled when more than 160 victims claimed that a network had cheated them of a substantial amount of money while promising to furnish them with fraudulent credentials identifying them as refugees from Bhutan. These people were promised by the con artists that they would be qualified for repatriation to other nations, including the USA. Watch | Nepal's former member of the Parliament arrested as fake Bhutanese refugee camp scam rocks × Soon after this, nationwide outrage followed the revelations that prominent political party officials had promised Nepali individuals false identities as Bhutanese refugees in exchange for millions of dollars. Arrests till now under the scam On May 10, former Home Minister and Nepali Congress politician Bal Krishna Khand were detained at his home in Nepal for his involvement in the trafficking of Nepali individuals as Bhutanese refugees overseas. After this, the absconding lawmaker Top Bahadur Rayamajhi was also arrested after he tried to dodge the police for many weeks. Also Read | WFH spies? Germany faces unique demand from new recruits Niraj Rai, the son of Indrajit Rai, who worked as the security advisor to then-Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, has also been arrested as a suspect in the suspected trafficking operation. Indrajit Rai, Thapa's former security advisor, has already been arrested, as have former Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, Sandeep Rayamajhi, Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Tanka Gurung, Sandesh Sharma Pokhrel, and Sagar Thulung. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Fake Bhutanese refugee scam: 10 more victims contact police about duping- Know about Nepal's scandal

Some top Nepalese officials have been arrested in a 'Bhutanese Refugee scam'. What is the scam all about? Mohammed Saleh reports.

Gravitas | Reports: Nepalese officials masking citizens as Bhutanese refugees

<p>A Nepalese lawmaker took off his shirt in the House amid a heated discussion on the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. Nepal-based media outlets reported that Amaresh Singh, who is an independent member of the House of Representatives, removed his shirt when the Speaker did not allow a slot for him to speak when the meeting started.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Concerns have been raised about the scam in Nepal after the police recently arrested former parliamentarian Indrajit Rai — a case linked to sending Nepalis to the United States in the guise of Bhutanese refugees. Rai was an advisor to former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He has been charged with issuing fake documents to Nepali citizens, identifying them as refugees. The process helped them go abroad easily.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The matter came into the limelight after Kantipur published multiple reports highlighting his involvement in the document forgery. After the reports, an arrest warrant was issued.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch this report:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>Local reports suggest that Nepal Police are investigating the scam, which involves top former government officials, high-profile leaders and bureaucrats and according to experts, the entire case has the potential of tarnishing the country's image globally.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by Khathmndu Post, Ramesh Nath Pandey, a former foreign minister, said, "This fake refugee scam has serious external dimensions too. The Home Ministry is taken as a sensitive ministry. Imagine what will happen if India and China come to believe that Nepal can no longer address their legitimate concerns?”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dinesh Bhattarai, a former ambassador and adviser to two former prime ministers, "This incident is unfortunate and if what the media are reporting is true, the dignity of our leadership has hit rock bottom. Definitely, the credibility of Nepali politicians has come under question."&nbsp;</p>

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A Nepalese lawmaker took off his shirt in the House amid a heated discussion on the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. Nepal-based media outlets reported that Amaresh Singh, who is an independent member of the House of Representatives, removed his shirt when the Speaker did not allow a slot for him to speak when the meeting started.

A Nepalese lawmaker took off his shirt in the House amid a heated discussion on the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. Nepal-based media outlets reported that Amaresh Singh, who is an independent member of the House of Representatives, removed his shirt when the Speaker did not allow a slot for him to speak when the meeting started. Concerns have been raised about the scam in Nepal after the police recently arrested former parliamentarian Indrajit Rai — a case linked to sending Nepalis to the United States in the guise of Bhutanese refugees. Rai was an advisor to former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa. He has been charged with issuing fake documents to Nepali citizens, identifying them as refugees. The process helped them go abroad easily. The matter came into the limelight after Kantipur published multiple reports highlighting his involvement in the document forgery. After the reports, an arrest warrant was issued. Watch this report: × Local reports suggest that Nepal Police are investigating the scam, which involves top former government officials, high-profile leaders and bureaucrats and according to experts, the entire case has the potential of tarnishing the country's image globally. As quoted by Khathmndu Post, Ramesh Nath Pandey, a former foreign minister, said, "This fake refugee scam has serious external dimensions too. The Home Ministry is taken as a sensitive ministry. Imagine what will happen if India and China come to believe that Nepal can no longer address their legitimate concerns?” Dinesh Bhattarai, a former ambassador and adviser to two former prime ministers, "This incident is unfortunate and if what the media are reporting is true, the dignity of our leadership has hit rock bottom. Definitely, the credibility of Nepali politicians has come under question." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Nepal: Lawmaker takes shirt off in House amid discussion on 'Bhutanese refugee scam'

The Bhutanese Refugee Scam is denting the image of Nepal. The Nepalese Police is investigating a scam that reportedly involves multiple former high-ranking officials from Nepal's Home Ministry. As several arrests have been made in this case, the latest being of the former Home Minister, Bal Krishna Khand. For details, watch the video.

Ex-Home Minister of Nepal Bal Krishna Khand arrested