KATHMANDU, March 11: Absconding contractor Manoj Bhetwal, who was wanted by Nepal Police, has surrendered to the Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, on Tuesday. The police had put Bhetwal in their wanted list last month.
After the promoter of Jaleshwar Swachchhanda Bikoi Builders Pvt Ltd surrendered at Teku, police took him into custody and presented before the court. The Patan High Court has remanded Bhetwal to judicial custody for seven days for investigation.
Earlier, a case had been filed against Bhetwal by a ‘victim’ on the charge of banking offense and the Patan High Court had issued an arrest warrant. After the court’s order, Bhetwal had fled to India.
The ‘victim’ had filed a complaint against Bhetwal at Metropolitan Police Range, Teku on the charge of banking fraud, after a check worth Rs 7.5 million was dishonored by the bank. Bhetwal is the builder of the proposed Kathmandu View Tower at Old Bus Park.
Former lawmaker Bhetwal passes away
“Bhetwal surrendered to police at around 8.30 in the morning. We took him into custody and presented him at Patan High Court,” SSP Uttam Subedi of the Teku Metropolitan Police Range, told Republica.
In 2018 too, Bhetwal was arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on the charge of misusing loan received from erstwhile Apex Development Bank. He was accused of obtaining loan from the bank by producing forged documents.
Meanwhile, in 2016 the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) had awarded the contract of the Kathmandu View Tower to Bhetwal’s firm, Jaleshwar Swachchhanda Bikoi Builders Pvt Ltd.
According to the contract signed with the KMC, the project should be completed in five years from the date of the agreement. But progress on the construction work is just one percent, according KMC.
Despite remaining in the police wanted list, he was in touch with KMC officials, according to sources.
“As the contract of the Kathmandu View Tower was awarded to Bhetwal’s company, he was touch with KMC officials,” said an official at the KMC requesting anonymity, adding that the KMC had no idea that the Bhetwal was wanted by police. The official also said that Bhetwal had visited the office of the Metropolis some 20 days ago.
In the meantime, the Kathmandu District Court has remanded Baburam Shrestha on the charge of defrauding foreign job aspirants to custody for 10 days. Shrestha was arrested by the police for allegedly swindling over Rs 25 million from some 60 persons by promising them jobs in Kuwait and Malta.
