Police Arrest Gang Involved in Using Fake Educational Certificates for US Diversity Visa Lottery

Kathmandu. Police have arrested a gang involved in advancing the US Diversity Visa (DV) process using fake educational certificates. The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office has arrested seven individuals involved in creating and using fraudulent educational documents and has initiated legal proceedings.

Kiran Singh Thakuri, 19, a resident of Myagde Rural Municipality-7, Tanahun, had submitted a certificate claiming he had passed Grade 12 to the US Embassy in Kathmandu for the DV application. When the embassy sent the certificate for verification to the National Examination Board in Sanothimi, it was confirmed that the document was counterfeit. Following confirmation from the Board that the certificate was fake, the police launched an investigation.

During the investigation, the police arrested Thakuri, who used the fake certificate, along with other individuals who created the certificate from various locations in Kathmandu. A special police team apprehended seven individuals involved in this racket on Magh 15 and 16.

Those arrested include the main accused Kiran Singh Thakuri, along with Anil Sharma, 40, from Phalebas, Parbat; Laxman Basnet, 34, from Tarkeshwor, Kathmandu; and Keshav Phuyal, 42, from Kakani, Nuwakot. Also arrested were Bishnu Pandey, 47, from Tadi, Nuwakot; Deepa Lawati, 43, from Kathmandu Metropolitan City-2; and Shobhakar Khanal, 52, from Gulmi.

According to the office's Information Officer and Police Superintendent Rameshwor Karki, all those arrested were sent to the District Police Range, Bhadrakali, on Sunday for necessary investigation and action under charges related to document forgery. The police stated that further investigation is underway to uncover other members and the network of the fake certificate-making gang.