NC undecided about suspending Khand

KATHMANDU: A meeting of the office-bearers of the Nepali Congress held on Wednesday ended without reaching any decision.

According to an office-bearer, the meeting held discussions on the arrest of central committee member Bal Krishna Khand, as well as the party’s departments and sister organizations.

Party Spokesperson Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat said that the meeting will continue on Thursday as well. When asked whether the party discussed the possibility of suspending Khand, Dr Mahat said: “It wouldn’t be right to label him as guilty yet as he has expressed commitment to support the investigation.”

Police arrested Khand from his residence in Chabahil on Wednesday morning for an investigation into the Bhutanese refugees scam. He has been remanded in police custody for four days.

Police have arrested 12 individuals, including Khand, on charges of defrauding hundreds of people out of tens of millions of rupees by promising them resettlement in the US as Bhutanese refugees.

CPN-UML Secretary Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, who has been implicated in the case, has gone out of contact since Wednesday after an arrest warrant was issued for him.

Meanwhile, the UML has suspended Top Bahadur Rayamajhi until the investigation is completed.