Former Koshi minister Adhikari to be tried for human trafficking

Kathmandu, November 10 — Former Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Koshi Province, Lilaballav Adhikari, has come under police investigation under the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2007, after the court granted a two-day remand for further inquiry. He is accused of attempting to traffic youths to Japan using fake documents.

According to SP Navaraj Adhikari of the Kathmandu District Police Office, the investigation pertains to allegations that Lilaballav Adhikari, along with six other individuals previously arrested, was involved in trafficking youths to Japan under the pretense of a cultural program, using forged paperwork. Police have converted the case from one related to document forgery to one involving human trafficking after evidence confirmed that money had been exchanged through middlemen for sending people abroad.

On October 27, Lilaballav Adhikari, 36-year-old Dawa Sherpa from Khotang, 22-year-old Kanchan Devkota from Rasuwa, and 22-year-old Janak Rai from Khotang, flew to Japan via Cathay Pacific for a cultural event. During the investigation, it was revealed that a middleman had arranged for both Adhikari and Devkota to stay in the same hotel in Tokyo. A police officer involved in the investigation confirmed, "It was found that Adhikari and Devkota had their accommodations arranged in the same hotel."

Upon their return from Japan, Adhikari and the three others were deported and arrested at Kathmandu’s airport, along with three middlemen: 34-year-old Mahesh Pandey from Dhading, 30-year-old Birbahadur Sunar from Dolakha, and 23-year-old Jugal Rijal from Nuwakot.

Dawa Sherpa’s brother lives in Japan. Sherpa’s brother, who works in trekking, was acquainted with Bir Bahadur Sunar from Dolakha, which led to the deposit of NPR 1,155,000 into Sunar's bank account for the Japan trip. Kanchan Devkota, a student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree, met Mahesh Pandey from Dhading, who facilitated his travel. Devkota reportedly paid NPR 1,000,000 for the trip.

Janak Rai, who had previously operated a farmhouse in Kapan, sold his business and handed over money to the middlemen for the Japan trip. Upon investigation, it was found that Sherpa, Devkota, and Rai had fake documents, such as municipal or ministry IDs, which were provided by the trafficking syndicate.

A police officer involved in the case mentioned that the middlemen handed over three forged IDs to Kanchan Devkota at the airport. Devkota transferred two of these to the other individuals.

Following the arrest of former Minister Adhikari, police have expanded their investigation into human trafficking. Adhikari, when questioned by the police, claimed that he was deceived. He said he had handed over his passport and documents to the middlemen for the cultural program, but only realized they had used fake papers when he reached Hong Kong. He expressed regret, saying, “I was set up.” 

Investigations have revealed that Mahesh Pandey was the one who prepared the forged documents. The police are now looking into Adhikari’s role in the trafficking operation. Two members of the trafficking syndicate are still at large.

According to the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2007, anyone found guilty of human trafficking—whether directly or indirectly for unlawful benefits—can face imprisonment of 7 to 10 years. Former Minister Adhikari is being investigated under this act. Police have also found that the traffickers sent photos of the Minister to the mobile phones of the three individuals who traveled to Japan, instructing them to attend the cultural event in Tokyo.