Complaint filed against Dhanraj in cooperative fraud case

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) Vice President and Member of House of Representative Dhanraj Gurung has found himself entangled in a cooperative fraud case.

Kumbharaj Gurung, the chairperson of Lalitpur-based Miteri Savings and Loan Cooperative, reached the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Monday, requesting an investigation into Gurung for financial fraud. Kumbharaj claimed in his complaint that Dhanraj’s ex-wife, Jyoti Gurung, committed fraud of Rs 148.1 million while serving as the cooperative’s manager.

However, CIB Spokesperson Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati said they won’t register individual complaints. “We have received a complaint related to fraud in Miteri Cooperative, but it won’t be registered here,” Bogati told Himal Press. “If a recommendation comes from the body where the cooperative is registered, we will proceed with further action.”

Dhanraj and Jyoti divorced on March 12, 2020.

Dhanraj told Himal Press he was unaware of any complaint filed against him. “I am neither a director nor a member of any cooperative to this day. My name is being associated with Jyoti. Our divorce was finalized in 2020,” he told Himal Press over the phone. “Kumbharaj, as the chairperson, and Jyoti, as the manager, might have committed the fraud. How would I know about it?”

Kumbharaj has also lodged a complaint against Dhanraj with the parliamentary special investigation committee looking into cooperative fraud.