Police Arrest Another Individual in Nepal's Fake Mountain Rescue Scam

Kathmandu. Police have arrested another person allegedly involved in the fake rescue incidents occurring in Nepal's mountaineering and trekking sector.

The arrested individual is 44-year-old Dr. Girwanraj Timilsina, the operator of Shraddha International Hospital located in Lazimpat.

Dr. Timilsina, originally from Modi Rural Municipality-2 in Parbat district, was arrested on Sunday with permission from the Kathmandu District Court.

According to the police, this fraudulent operation was being run in collusion between Dr. Timilsina's hospital and various rescue flight companies, including Mountain Rescue Service, Everest Experience, and Nepal Charter Service.

They were forging passenger and cargo manifests by altering records from the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation Authority, and the airport.

Based on the forged documents, they would create fake bills, admission, and discharge reports, and medical reports, showing that the rescued foreign tourists were mandatorily hospitalized as per the terms of their insurance policies.

The hospital and the companies were illegally gaining financial benefits by claiming insurance amounts based on these fabricated documents.

Police have concluded that such activities have led to negative news coverage about Nepal in international media, severely damaging Nepal's tourism sector and national prestige. Therefore, they have been arrested under charges related to offenses against national interest.