KATHMANDU, March 22: The Government Attorney's Office, Kathmandu, on Sunday filed cases against 32 individuals for their alleged involvement in the fake helicopter rescue scams at the Kathmandu District Court (KDC).
Deepak Kumar Shrestha, information officer of the KDC, informed that the accused have been charged under organized crime and systemic offense against the state. While eight of the accused are under police custody, the remaining 24 have been absconding.
The issue of fake rescue operations in the country’s tourism sector was first reported around six years ago and has remained unchecked until recent crackdown. The individuals and organizations under scrutiny were accused of systematically rescuing tourists by helicopter, claiming they were sick, and then admitting them to hospitals to claim insurance.
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In 2018, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) formed a task force led by then Joint Secretary Ghanshyam Upadhyay to examine alleged fraud in tourist rescue operations. The task force report highlighted irregularities involving several hospitals, including Vayodha Hospitals in Balkhu, Grand International Hospital in Dhapasi, Norvic International Hospital in Thapathali, Era Health Center in Sorhakhutte, Swacon Hospital in Battisputali and CIWEC Hospital in Kapurdhara.
Since January-end this year, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), started a fresh investigation over the case, based on the information that an organized group had been operating such fake rescue operations involving foreign tourists to recover insurance money.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested Mountain Rescue Service Pvt Ltd's owner Jayaram Rimal, manager Vivek Pandey, Nepal Chartered Service's owner Rabindra Adhikari, Everest Experience and Associates Pvt Ltd's owner Mukti Pandey, and manager Subash KC.
Rajendra Bahadur Singh, former vice president of the Airline Operators Association of Nepal, and Sandeep Tiwari, proprietor of Royal Holidays Adventure and Travel Company and Medical Dr Girwan Raj Timilsina, proprietor of Shreedhi Hospital are also among those arrested.
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