Nepal Major Crime Investigations

Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki said Nepal Police will keep old criminal cases in its institutional memory and pursue suspects even decades later. He also said a special team is investigating old high-profile cases through the Central Investigation Bureau, alongside expanded technology-driven services for cyber and financial crimes.

Nepal Police said cybercrime complaints reached 20,526 in fiscal year 2082/83, while only 161 cases were filed and 155 arrests were made. Officials said most complaints involved Facebook, Messenger, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Telegram, with scams tied to fake jobs, lotteries, and impersonation fraud increasing.

Nepal Police asked for legal authority to intercept phone calls and digital communications in real time during criminal investigations. The proposal renewed privacy and civil liberties concerns over potential abuse and would require strict judicial oversight if enacted.

Police arrested three people in Baneshwor, Kathmandu, for allegedly running illegal online betting through the 1XBet app and cryptocurrency transactions. Investigators said the suspects handled more than Rs 206,000 in bets and 79,068.65 USDT in virtual currency.

Nepal’s Cyber Bureau said it registered 161 complaints related to electronic offenses over the past year and submitted investigation reports. DIG Abi Narayan Kafle said most alleged offenders were aged 19 to 25.

Nepal Police unveiled a special action plan to tackle cybercrime, social media misuse, scamming, and misinformation. The plan includes new cyber units, an Anti Cyber Scam Center, upgraded forensic tools, and expanded smart CCTV and command systems.

Nepal uncovered at least 135 compromised nepal.gov.np email accounts in multiple data breaches, exposing sensitive records and aiding phishing scams. Cyber authorities said they joined Have I Been Pwned to track leaked credentials and improve monitoring across government systems.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority charged an immigration department employee and a US citizen with corruption for illegally providing visas and tampering with government records.

Police in Kathmandu arrested two individuals transporting 5 tons of illegal wood charcoal valued at Rs 256,000, seized at Nagdhunga and handed over to the District Forest Office for further action.

Eight years after 13-year-old Nirmala Pant's rape and murder in Kanchanpur, multiple investigations have failed to identify the perpetrator despite extensive inquiry including over 100 DNA tests and questioning more than 1,000 people.

A fraud case was registered against eight individuals related to Bal Mandir, with three arrested and five absconding, following a 2020 investigative report exposing financial irregularities and abuse.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority arrested Sarlahi Division Chief Anupama Dhakal and Mechanical Official Tulakant Chaudhary with Rs 7.5 lakh bribe during an ongoing corruption probe.

Kathmandu District Police Complex prepared criminal profiles for 1,871 individuals suspected of crimes including gangsterism, smuggling, narcotics, and fraud, to assess their risk of future offenses.

The Central Investigation Bureau arrested Mrigendra Nath Rimal, ex-CEO of Nepal Micro Insurance, on charges of financial irregularities and money laundering. He appeared before Kathmandu District Court and will also face the Special Court regarding these allegations.

Businessman Shanker Agrawal was arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau for a banking fraud case involving misappropriation of bank loans. This arrest continues the crackdown on financial crimes targeting high-profile figures.

The Department of Money Laundering Investigation filed seven money laundering cases involving 121 defendants and seeks recovery of approximately Rs 118 billion in fiscal year 2025/26.

Nepal Telecommunications Authority blocked more than 223,568 websites and apps related to online betting and illegal financial transactions, supporting government efforts to curb online fraud during the FIFA World Cup.

Nepal Police arrested 7,251 fugitive defendants nationwide, executing nearly 2,937 years of imprisonment and collecting Rs 724.7 million in fines during a recent campaign focused on serious crimes from the last Baishakh to the end of Ashad.

Kathmandu police arrested activist Vedika KC on electronic offenses charges, launching an investigation following a complaint by Katha Vachika Radhika Dasi.

Police arrested five individuals in Kathmandu involved in producing counterfeit Ayurvedic Silver Warm Therapy oil, seizing large amounts of fake oil and packaging during raids at multiple warehouses.

Businessman Shanker Agrawal was arrested by Nepal Police in connection with a banking offense involving money laundering after previously absconding. The arrest was publicly announced by Senior Superintendent of Police Anup Shumsher Rana.

The Nepalese government formed a judicial inquiry committee led by former High Court judge Keshav Prasad Bastola to investigate the self-immolation death of Ganesh Nepali. The Cabinet also waived education and health equity fees and approved key judicial appointments and airport fee waivers.

Nepal Police Central Investigation Bureau marked its 16th anniversary, emphasizing its role in criminal investigations and collaboration with partner agencies to combat major crimes and corruption.

RSP lawmaker Yagyamani Neupane demanded a ruthless review and structural overhaul of Nepal's judiciary following the Special Court's release of CPN (UML) Vice Chairman Bishnu Paudel on money laundering charges. Neupane criticized the legal framework for protecting powerful individuals while failing ordinary citizens.

CPN (UML) Vice Chairman Bishnu Paudel was arrested and charged with money laundering amid concerns the cases are being weaponized politically, negatively impacting Nepal's investment climate.

Ganesh Nepali's self-immolation protests Nepal's lack of legal recourse for police-imposed fines and charges, underscoring shortcomings in due process and the need for independent legal frameworks to challenge administrative penalties.

The Nepalese government and victims of predatory lending neared agreement to classify usury as a major economic crime, invalidate fraudulent debt documents, and draft a special anti-usury law within three months with a new tribunal and task force.

Eleven armed police personnel including DSPs and inspectors are under investigation for collusion with smugglers at border areas in Kakadvitta, Sunsari, and Morang, involving underreporting of smuggled goods.

The Central Investigation Bureau arrested three suspects for misappropriation of funds from Bal Mandir and the Nepal Children’s Organization, including double salary payments to Asha Shrestha.

Nepal established the Property Inquiry Commission in April 2026 to investigate disproportionate wealth among political and bureaucratic elites since 2006. The commission reviews asset declarations and forwards suspicious cases to the anti-corruption body but does not have prosecutorial power.

The parliamentary subcommittee studying human rights conditions for prisoners and undertrials in Nepal extended its term by 15 days to deepen its inspection of jail facilities and rights.

Three individuals, including Asha Shrestha, were arrested for embezzling funds intended for maintenance and education at Bal Mandir under the Nepal Children’s Organization in Nakshal.

Kathmandu District Court convicted former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and former home minister Bal Krishna Khand for involvement in a fake Bhutanese refugee scam that defrauded victims of at least Rs 288 million by fabricating refugee status for resettlement abroad. Seven defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, including sons of two prominent politicians.

Nepal's Public Accounts Committee disclosed alleged billion-rupee corruption in the passport printing process causing national security concerns and citizen hardships, demanding audits and investigations.

Police initiated investigations against Abhishek Giri in additional organized crime and money laundering cases, extending his detention in Morang District Court due to his criminal network and unlawful wealth.

The Nepal government introduced legislation to place the National Investigation Department back under the Prime Minister’s Office, reversing a prior change and highlighting a political power struggle over intelligence oversight.