KATHMANDU, Aug 15: An additional 18 victims of the fake Bhutanese refugee scam have lodged their application with the police demanding justice for them.

Police have received three separate complaints from 18 victims on charges of forgery worth Rs 18.59 million, according to the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office of Nepal Police.

Prior to this, a total of 115 individuals had lodged their complaints with the police.

Superintendent of Police Rabindra Regmi at the Crime Investigation Office said that 18 victims from Lamjung, Sunsari, Sindhupalchowk, Gorkha, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Kathmandu and other districts have lodged their complaints stating that Sanu Bhandari, Keshav Dulal and others cheated them promising to send them to the US under the guise of Bhutanese refugees.

Those arrested already in connection with this crime include former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former Home Minister Balkrishna Khand, former Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, Security Advisor to former Home Minister, Dr Indrajeet Rai. 

Bhutani refugee leader Teknath Rijal, Chairperson of Nepal Haj Committee, Samsher Minya, former lawmaker Angtawa Sherpa, personal secretary of the the Home Minister Khand, Narendra KC, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Rayamajhi, Sandip Rayamajhi, Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sandesh Sharma, Sagar Rai, Tanka Gurung, Govinda Chaudhary and Ram Sharan KC are also among those arrested in connection with this scam.

Most of those arrested are currently in police custody for further investigation.  

However, Pratik, son of former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Niraj, son of Indrajeet Rai, have been absconding.

 
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