Abhishek Giri Arrested for Extortion Racket in Morang Prison

Biratnagar. Abhishek Giri, who served 9 years in prison for kidnapping and hostage cases, did not stop his illegal extortion racket. Giri is accused of illegally interfering in the internal administration and financial transactions of the prison even while incarcerated and running an illegal extortion racket. He was arrested by the police on Saturday morning on the same charge. A team from the District Police Office, Morang, took the 48-year-old Giri into custody from his residence in Madhumara, Biratnagar-8. Police say an investigation is underway focusing on his extortion activities.

Immediately after his arrest, inmates in the prison displayed placards with slogans such as 'How long will Abhishek Giri's reign last? Are our people being transferred because Abhishek Giri is not being given 'dada allowance' from the summer allowance meant for inmates?' Giri is accused of forcibly extorting money from inmates in Morang Jail, including the government-provided winter and summer clothing allowance and the money they earned through labor. He is also a leader of the Nepali Congress and a former jail warden.

Police claim that Giri's involvement was confirmed during the investigation into the disappearance of lakhs of rupees distributed as summer allowance to inmates in the prison just a few hours after its distribution.

Morang Prison Administration recently distributed Rs 2,500 per person as summer allowance to the inmates. According to Jailer Rajan Ghimire, the allowance was distributed to a total of 1,185 inmates, including 539 in 'A Block', 536 in 'B Block', and 110 in the women's block. However, information reached Morang Chief District Officer Yuvraj Catel that the Rs 1.34 million distributed to inmates in 'B Block' disappeared shortly after distribution.

Immediately after receiving the information, under the direction of CDO Catel, the prison administration, along with security personnel, conducted a surprise inspection of 'B Block'. During the inspection, the money meant for the allowance was not found in the inmates' hands. Upon questioning, acting warden Chanchal Barman, who was part of the prison's internal administration, stated that the money had reached Abhishek Giri's group outside. Based on this information, a police team led by Inspector Abhishek Shrestha of the District Police Office, Morang, surrounded Giri's house and searched it. During the search of Giri's room, some promissory notes (loan agreements) made in the names of the inmates were reportedly found. Sources say that Giri, while serving as a warden in prison, used to make inmates sign promissory notes under various pretexts with dates prior to his imprisonment, and based on those documents, he continued to extort money even after being released.

Giri is also accused of forcibly taking money earned by inmates through labor within the prison, not just government allowances. Currently, there are 1,199 inmates in Morang Prison. They receive a daily allowance of Rs 80, totaling approximately Rs 96,000 per day. In addition, they receive Rs 2,500 each annually for winter and summer clothing allowances. According to prison administration sources, about 500 inmates in the jail weave mats, and about 100 weave carpets. The investigation shows that Giri, in collusion with the current jail warden Rakesh Yadav, used to collect the income from the sale of these materials and government allowances, send it to the bank accounts of his associates, and extort it. Police are currently examining banking transaction details and other evidence regarding the fact that the money does not reach the inmates' accounts despite their labor, and all the money goes to Giri's group through informal channels.

There was tension in Morang Prison for some time immediately after Abhishek Giri's arrest. When the police tried to take the current jail warden Rakesh Yadav to the District Police Office for questioning on suspicion of collusion with Giri, the inmates became agitated. They chanted slogans, claiming that Yadav was being transferred from the prison. The inmates demanded that Giri be punished but Yadav should not be transferred. As the tension escalated within the prison, the police decided to return Yadav to the prison and proceed with questioning him under security cordon.

Immediately after being arrested and taken to the District Police Office, Giri pressured the police to take him to the hospital, claiming chest pain. The police immediately took him to Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar. According to Dr. Chandra Bhal Jha, Medical Superintendent of Koshi Hospital, Giri's blood pressure was found to be high in the preliminary health check-up, while the ECG report was normal. He is currently undergoing treatment under police surveillance in the hospital's emergency room. Doctors stated that he would be discharged from the hospital and sent to police custody once his blood pressure returns to normal. The arrested Giri, however, claims that he is being framed due to political vendetta.

Controversial Background

Abhishek Giri has been known in Biratnagar for a long time as a controversial figure involved in gangsterism and criminal activities. While serving a 9-year jail sentence for hostage and kidnapping cases, he served as a jail warden in Morang Prison for a long time. Even during his time in prison, he was continuously accused of extreme oppression and financial exploitation of inmates.

Two years ago, after completing his sentence and being released from prison, Giri established the 'Giri Foundation' and was engaged in various activities to improve his social image. He was also active in Nepali Congress politics and worked as an undeclared election commander for party leaders in the last general elections.

However, police claim that even after being released from prison, his unauthorized control over the financial cycle within the jail and his extortion racket did not stop.