Kathmandu, Dec. 13: Nepal Police have arrested 32 members of a gang involved in forging documents and facilitating unauthorized travel abroad on visit visas.

The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office of Nepal Police has arrested 32 people, including travel agency operators and government employees, who were involved in a gang of forging documents and sending them abroad on visit visas.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, Somendra Singh Rathore, held a press conference on Wednesday and said that 32 people had been arrested in the case since October 6, 2023 and the necessary action has been taken. According to him, among those who were arrested in the case of going abroad on visit visas by making fake documents, 6 people operate consultancies, one police personnel, one ex-police, two employees of Nepal Airlines Corporation and 11 people involved in various other settings. Rathore said that nine people are being investigated for organized crime and 12 people are being investigated for document forgery. He said that eight people have been released on bail, and three more individuals have been taken into custody today and the investigation has started.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Govinda Panthi, the owners of the travel agencies arrested are Manuraj Chaudhary, owner of Ontra Trip Online Travels, Ramprasad Bhandari, owner of HR Tours and Travels, Saroj Yadav, owner of Holidays and Travels, Dinesh Gyawali, owner of SKJ Travel, Devraj Khanal, owner of Relevant Travels.

Similarly, Ganesh Pandey, owner of Advanced Management Consultants was also arrested. He also said that among those arrested are Narbir Khadka, an employee of the Department of Immigration, and two Nepal Airlines Corporation employees, Arbin Yadav and Hom Pokharel.

According to the police investigation, it has been disclosed that travel agencies were charging Rs 15,000 per person for forging documents. Additionally, employees of the immigration department are allegedly charging Rs 55,000 for new individuals and Rs 40,000 for older clients who have previously traveled abroad.