Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam: High Court orders remand for eight people, including Top Bahadur Rayamajhi

Kathmandu / Dec 1: The Patan High Court has issued an order for the remand in custody of eight individuals, including former minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee case. The joint bench comprising Judges Janak Pandey and Prakash Kharel upheld the Kathmandu District Court’s decision to imprison Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Indrajit Rai, Keshab Dulal, and Angtawa Sherpa.

Judges’ opinions vary on Bal Krishna Khand, to be referred to a third judge

In the case of fake Bhutanese refugees, the opinion of the judges has differed on whether to keep former minister Bal Krishna Khan in custody or release him on bail. It is said that the matter will be referred to a third judge.

The joint bench of Patan High Court Judges Janak Pandey and Prakash Kharel issued the order. Judge Pandey had stated that the order of the district court to send him to prison should be withdrawn and he should be released on a bail of Rs 3 million.

But another judge, Kharel, did not agree with the opinion of releasing him on bail as “he cannot be said to be innocent now.”

Now his case will be submitted to a third judge. It is not yet certain who will be the third judge. The bench for Khand’s case will be referred through a lucky draw system.

Order to release Top Bahadur’s son Sandeep on a bail of Rs 3 million

Sandeep Rayamajhi, son of former Deputy Prime Minister and UML secretary Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, who is in custody pending trial in the fake Bhutanese refugee case, has been ordered to be released on bail.

The High Court, Patan, on Friday ordered him to be released on a bail of Rs 3 million.

In the case of his father Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, the High Court has given an order that the decision of the district court will remain unchanged. The district court had ordered Top Bahadur Rayamajhi to be detained.

The police had arrested him from Butwal on May 3 and brought him to Kathmandu.

Order to release Bhutanese refugee leader Rijal on Rs 1.5 million bail

The court has ordered the release of Teknath Rijal, the Bhutanese refugee leader who is in custody due to pending trial in the case of fake Bhutanese refugees.

The Patan High Court on Friday ordered Rijal to be released on a bond of Rs 1.5 million. Rijal was ordered to be released as he had given a denial statement and it was not confirmed that he had received money from the informant.

The High Court has said that Rijal should not be detained as he is a leader of Bhutanese refugees and is taking refuge in Nepal and is not in a position to escape and go elsewhere.

Rijal was arrested by the police on May 18. It was ordered to send 16 people including him to prison on June 16 for preliminary investigation. After that, he was kept in the Central Jail, Sundhara.