Cooperative Deposits Misuse: Dhorpatan Mayor Nepali detained in India

KATHMANDU: Dev Kumar Nepali, the mayor of Dhorpatan Municipality of Baglung, has been detained in New Delhi, India. Nepali, who was also the chairperson of Image Savings and Credit Cooperative, had been on the run after misappropriating savings in the cooperative.

Nepal Police had issued a red notice on Interpol for the arrest of Nepali. Indian security forces apprehended him in New Delhi based on this notice.

“Indian security forces have detained Nepali, and our police are making preparations to bring him to Nepal after completing the necessary procedures,” Acting Inspector General of Police Tek Prasad Rai told Himal Press.

A total of 1,573 depositors have filed complaints against Nepali at the District Police Office, Baglung. Along with Mayor Nepali, his wife Chhela Nepali is also facing charges of misappropriating cooperative funds.

The first case against the couple was registered on June 6, 2023. Police have reported that the total amount of misappropriated funds stands at Rs 1.38 billion.

Last year, on November 21, he went live on Facebook for the first time, claiming that the cooperative had faced issues after many depositors demanded their savings back all at once. He also stated that he had to go into hiding after receiving death threats at his home from armed individuals and that depositors with savings of Rs 600,000 were demanding properties worth millions. Stating that he has 18 houses in different parts of the country, he expressed commitment to return the money of depositors by selling his houses.

Police issued the red notice for Mayor Nepali’s arrest on January 24, 2024.