Manpower Operator and Staff Arrested on Fraud Charges

Uddhav Pathak, a manpower operator from Morang, and his associate Abhi Bhandari have been arrested on charges of defrauding individuals by promising foreign employment in Romania. To date, 92 people have filed complaints at the Sijuwa Police Station, demanding compensation amounting to approximately NPR 35 million. The court has extended their custody by six days to facilitate further investigation. (May 4, Biratnagar)

The Morang police arrested the manpower operator and his staff on allegations of defrauding the public by falsely arranging foreign employment. Uddhav Pathak, 37, from Ratuwamai Municipality-8, and 25-year-old Abhi Bhandari from Ratuwamai-9 were taken into custody. Bhandari serves as the accountant and agent for Pathak’s manpower company, K S A, located in Damrabhitta, Ratuwamai-8. Following several fraud complaints, the police launched an investigation, confirmed by Morang’s Chief District Officer Yubaraj Kattel.

The two suspects were detained at the Sijuwa Police Station on Monday evening. The police reported that the complaint filing process is ongoing. By Wednesday, 92 individuals had registered complaints at the Morang District Police Office seeking compensation of around NPR 35 million. The number of complaints continues to rise. Preliminary investigations have revealed that Pathak, operating the manpower company in Ratuwamai, defrauded more than 300 people. Police have extended their custody by six days to continue the investigation. Pathak allegedly collected money promising to send people abroad for four years but never facilitated their departure. Complaints against Pathak have been filed at police stations in Sijuwa, Urlabari, the Morang District Police Office, and Kathmandu. Pathak, who had been residing in Romania, returned to Nepal only about a month ago.