Kathmandu: Nepali Congress leader and ex-home minister Bal Krishna Khand has been arrested by the Kathmandu Police Circle in connection with the Bhutanese refugee scam.
The scam involved duping Nepalis out of millions of rupees by promising to send them to the US as Bhutanese refugees. Khand was arrested from his home in Mainjubahal, while 11 others, including the former home secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, have also been arrested. Pandey had alleged Khand's involvement in the scam.
Two individuals, Govinda Chaudhary and Ram Sharan KC, were also arrested in Kathmandu on Tuesday. Earlier, the police had arrested Indrajit Rai, security adviser to the then home minister, and Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sagar Thulung Rai, Tanka Gurung, and Sandesh Sharma Pokhrel, who had strong political connections.
Meanwhile, former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi has been on the run since May 4 after an arrest warrant was issued against him and his son.
The Kathmandu District Court has extended the custody of eight people who were arrested for their alleged involvement in the scam.
