Investigation launched into human trafficking case involving outgoing minister Adhikari

Kathmandu, November 6 — Nepal Police has initiated an investigation into a human trafficking incident involving a minister from the Koshi Province government.

Lilaballabh Adhikari, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Koshi Province, has been accused of trafficking individuals while traveling to Japan, taking along unrelated persons with fake documents. After the accusations, Adhikari resigned from his ministerial position on Wednesday.

It has been revealed that Adhikari traveled to Japan with individuals carrying forged documents. The police have arrested six people, including three who traveled with Adhikari to Japan, and investigations are ongoing.

Among those traveling with the minister were 36-year-old Dawa Sherpa from Khotang, 22-year-old Kanchan Devkota from Rasuwa, and Janak Rai from Khotang. On October 31, they were deported from Japan by the immigration office in Tokyo.

Upon arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, three of them were taken into custody by the immigration office and the airport security office, and handed over to the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office. However, Adhikari managed to leave the airport without any issues.

Based on the statements of the deported individuals, the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office has arrested three more individuals: 34-year-old Mahesh Pandey from Dhading, 23-year-old Jugal Rijal from Nuwakot, and 30-year-old Bir Bahadur from Dolakha. The Kathmandu District Police Range is conducting the investigation.

SSP Basanta Rajaure from the Kathmandu District Police Range confirmed to Ratopati that the arrested individuals have been sent to the Valley Crime Investigation Office for further action. "For more details, you will need to inquire with the Valley Crime Investigation Office," he said.

From the deported individual Dawa Sherpa, the police seized an identity card of a ward member from Aiselukharka Rural Municipality, Ward No. 2, Khotang. They also found official identity cards from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law of Koshi Province with Kanchan Devkota and Janak Rai. The authenticity of these identity cards is being verified through correspondence with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Aiselukhark Rural Municipality.

According to the police, the deported individuals have stated that the other three people helped them prepare the forged documents. Based on their statements, Adhikari may also come under investigation. Police officials involved in the investigation mentioned, "If it is found that Adhikari was involved in creating the forged documents, he could also become a defendant in the case."

Kathmandu police is currently investigating the case regarding the forged documents, and the investigation is ongoing. Two other suspects who allegedly helped send the individuals to Japan under the guise of a cultural program are still at large, and the police are actively searching for them.