Fake Bhutanese refugee scam: 10 victims contact police claiming they were conned

KATHMANDU, April 20: Ten people have reported to the police citing they were fleeced of Rs 51.9 million under the pretext of taking them to America registering them as Bhutanese refugees.

Nepal Police, Kathmandu Valley Investigation Office said so far 10 people have come in contact with the police. These people have registered 10 separate complaints identifying the cheaters claiming they have been cheated of more than Rs 51 million 997 thousand. 

Superintendent of Police at the Office Somendra Singh Rathour said the complaints filed by the victims together with the required investigation documents have been forwarded to the Kathmandu District Police Range, Teku on Wednesday for further action.

The Office has already arrested Sandesh Sharma, Sanu Bhandari and Keshav Dulal on the charge of cheating and handed them to the Range.

Police said it is found that the arrested persons, in collusion, have cheated various citizens from Kaski, Dang, Morang, and Rukum, among other districts, since 2077 BS till present, alluring them of taking them to America registering them as Bhutanese refugees.

It is said 81 people have been cheated in this way. An initial estimate is that the cheaters have fleeced them Rs 130 million. Police preliminary investigation showed that the victims had paid the cheaters Rs 1.5 million to 2 million merely to fill up the forms as Bhutanese refugees.