Former Koshi Minister Adhikari arrested

Kathmandu, November 10 — The police have taken former minister of Koshi Province, Lilaballav Adhikari, into custody. 

Adhikari has been taken into custody for investigation on charges of forging fake documents and sending three people to Japan, according to a senior police officer who spoke to Ratopati.

He is being brought to Kathmandu from Biratnagar.

Police investigations have revealed that those who traveled to Japan with Adhikari after forging fake documents had paid 10 lakh rupees per person.

The three individuals—36-year-old Dawa Sherpa from Khotang, Janak Rai from the same district, and 22-year-old Kanchan Devkota from Rasuwa—had paid 10 lakh rupees each. They were deported from Tokyo airport and returned to Kathmandu.

On October 30, the three individuals, along with the former minister, were deported by Japan's immigration office in Tokyo. They were arrested as soon as they arrived at Kathmandu Airport.

In total, six people—including the three deported individuals—are currently under investigation by the Kathmandu District Police Office for document forgery-related offenses.

According to a police officer involved in the investigation, the individuals admitted in their initial statements that they had paid 10 lakh rupees each under the pretext of participating in a cultural event in Japan, with the condition of staying there permanently.

Aside from the three deported individuals, 34-year-old Mahesh Pandey from Dhading, 23-year-old Jugal Rijal from Nuwakot, and 30-year-old Birbahadur Sunar from Dolakha have also been arrested. The total number of those arrested, including the former minister, now stands at seven.