Will it reveal further high-profile nexus?

KATHMANDU, June 30: The police have reopened the file of the fake Bhutanese refugee case involving high-profile individuals after one year. The District Police Office, Kathmandu, arrested two suspects and reopened the file for the second time after a year.

Former Home Minister and Deputy Chairperson of Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre), Ram Bahadur Thapa's son, Pratik Thapa, was among those arrested recently. Pratik was the personal secretary of his father when he was the Home Minister. 

The police had found leads of his involvement in the scam one year ago.

After learning about his possible arrest, Pratik stated that he was ready to assist the investigation and had even issued a statement. The police obtained an arrest warrant from the Kathmandu District Court but he went into hiding.

During this period, he was reported to have been traveling back and forth between Nepal and India, according to police sources. On Friday, after receiving information that he was in Boudha, the police managed to apprehend him. Preparations are underway to present him before the Kathmandu District Court on Sunday.

"Many aspects have already been revealed in the previous investigations against him. Charges have also been filed," said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Basanta Rajurel, Chief of Kathmandu District Police Office. "According to the court's order, further proceedings will move forward," he added.

Another person arrested is Bechan Jha. According to police sources, he was arrested from Kanchanpur, near the western border. He is identified as a suspicious character in this case. Additionally, Jha has been found to have taken a check of Rs 20 million from Ram Sharan KC, of a gang involved in the scam. In a statement to police, KC said that he had issued a check of Himalayan Bank to Jha as ordered by the main planner Sanu Bhadari.

The amount, according to investigation officers, is believed to have been taken by Jha assuring to make necessary decisions in the refugee case from the Cabinet. This has been stated by the main planner Sanu Bhandari himself. In the previous investigation, Jha’s details were not disclosed.

Now, with Jha's recent arrest, the police on Sunday will seek a remand for custody to continue their investigation.

Will nexus ‘high-profile’ connections be revealed?

After the arrest of Pratik Thapa and Bechan Jha, there is hope that further high-profile connections will be revealed in the refugee case. "There is sufficient basis to apprehend them," said a senior official from the police headquarters. "It was on this basis that the court issued arrest warrants," he added. "There is a high probability that their relationship, past positions, and roles played in this case can lead to more revelations," he further stated.

Another main planner, Sanu Bhandari, has given the statement that he gave money to Pratik’s mother, Nainkala Thapa, as per the request of Prateek. Not only former Home Minister Thapa's son, Pratik but also his security advisor Indrajit Rai, and Rai's son Niraj were implicated in the refugee case. Advisor Rai is currently in custody pending further investigation. Niraj, however, is still absconding.

They were found to be working in the refugee case while stationed at the then Home Minister Thapa's secretariat, according to the investigating officer. So far, no action has been taken against the former Home Minister Thapa. The police claim that they do not have any strong evidence against him.

The police officers are indicating that Pratik Thapa's arrest may lead to uncovering his involvement in the nexus. Moreover, it has been revealed that Bechan Jha took Rs 20 million from the cabinet.

In his statement to the police, Ram Sharan KC said, "After Sanu Bhandari mentioned that Bechan Jha had requested money during the Cabinet meeting on November 29, 2021, to influence a decision on Bhutanese refugees, I issued a Rs 20 million check in Bechan Jha's name from an account at Himalayan Bank."

The police have also obtained a photo of the check provided by KC. 

With Bechan Jha’s arrest, it appears that the police may investigate whether he had any relationship with the former member of the Council of Ministers.

"The police are certain that the gang didn't hand over such a large sum to Bechan Jha without reason. They gave him money because he has connections with VVIPs," said a police officer involved in the investigation. "After his arrest, he might confess to certain things," the officer added.

The police are hopeful that further investigation into both individuals will uncover new connections, but they express concern about potential political pressures.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bishwa Adhikari, deputy-spokesperson of Nepal Police, clarified that this is not a new phase of the investigation but a continuation of the previous one. "The case is still ongoing in court," he explained. "We have apprehended some people who were on the run. We will conduct further investigation and present them in court as part of the same case,” he added.