KATHMANDU, May 17: The police investigation into the fake Bhutanese refugee case will continue for a few more days.

Police are given a few more days to continue the investigation into the fake Bhutanese refugee case after the District Government Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu became somewhat flexible.

“Police needed some time for a full investigation. So, we have asked them to finish the investigation related to this case as soon as possible. They have to submit a report on the 57th day after the investigation of the case starts,” said Achut Mani Neupane, Chief of the District Government Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu. “Now, we have asked them to take a few days more to complete the investigation.”

There is a legal obligation for the  District Government Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu to file a case after completion of investigation at the district court in Kathmandu within the 60th day.

Earlier on Sunday, the District Government Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu had instructed the police to complete the investigation by Tuesday and submit the report on Wednesday. The  District Government Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu has become flexible after police said that it is difficult to complete the ongoing investigation in the given time. 

Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari and Tanka Gurung were arrested on March 26 in connection with this case. Initially, police took permission from the District Court to investigate the 'fraud-related offense'. 

Later, as the number of people seemingly involved in the case gradually increased, police sought permission to investigate ‘offenses related to organized crime', to which the district court agreed.

The Organized Crime Act, 2070 BS states the investigation against persons arrested on this crime must be completed within 60 days. According to the District Government Attorney’s Office, the time limit of 60 days has been set starting from the date of the first arrest in this case.

Neupane said that since many people are involved in this case, there are many cases of offenses and many offenses are overlapping according to the prevailing law, it will take time for the  District Government Attorney’s Office to prosecute after briefly studying the police investigation report.

Statements of Angtawa Sherpa yet to be recorded 

While the police investigation into the fake Bhutanese refugee scam is ongoing, the Public Prosecutor's Office has also started its work. The Public Prosecutor's Office has also taken the statements of 13 people arrested in connection with this case. A total of 12 people have already recorded their statements.

The statement of lawmaker and NC leader Angtawa Sherpa, who surrendered to the police on Monday, is not yet recorded. “We are preparing to record his statement today,” said Neupane. On Monday, the Public Prosecutor's Office took the statement of CPN-UML Secretary and former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi for almost six hours. The statements of the remaining 11 people in custody have already been taken.

In this case, the arrest warrants for nine more people have been issued, sources said. Among them are Prateek Thapa, son of CPN-UML Vice Chairman and former Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Niraj Rai, son of Indrajit Rai, who was security advisor when Thapa was Home Minister. 

Indrajit is already in police custody. Police said they are trying to arrest the accused who are still absconding. If they are not arrested soon, police are preparing to declare them as fugitives based on the evidence collected so far.

Judicial remand ending today

Meanwhile, the period of the judicial remand permitted by the Kathmandu District Court to keep all the 14 people arrested so far in police custody for investigation is expiring today. The remand of MP Sherpa who surrendered to the police on Monday was also extended till Wednesday.

“Every accused's judicial remand ends today. The police plan to present everyone with their opinion along with the progress of their investigation,” said Chief of the District Government Attorney’s Office, Neupane, “Then a decision will be made whether or not to extend time for investigation.”

According to him, there is a possibility that the investigation may continue for a few more days by extending the judicial remand of the arrestees.

 
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