Kathmandu : Pleadings over the accused in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam have begun in the District Court Kathmandu.

So far 18 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the scam and the court completed recording of their statements on Friday. The detention over the nexus includes high-profile arrestees.  According to Court information officer Deepak Dahal, the pleading has begun today in the bench headed by court judge Prem Prasad Neupane.

The government attorneys are pleading on behalf of the plaintiff in the scam. Former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former Home Minister Balkrishna Khand, government secretary (suspended) Tek Narayan Pandey, Indrajit Rai, security advisor to the then Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rijal, Keshab Dulal and Sanu Bhandari are among those detained over their alleged role in the scam.

They along with other 12 who are sought by the police face multiples charges as organised crime, forgery, fraud, and crime against the State. Police have sought the recovery of Rs 274 million from them.  Police filed charges against them on May 24.