Raj Kumar Thapa, the chief of the District Coordination Committee in Myagdi, was arrested on Sunday morning on charges of embezzling Rs1.49 billion from the Beni-based Kumari Cooperatives. Thapa was apprehended at his residence, confirmed Bharat Shrestha, the chief of Myagdi police.
The investigation into Thapa’s alleged fraudulent activities was sparked by a report from the Office of the Cooperative Registrar in Pokhara, which had been investigating the matter for over a year. The report accused Thapa of misappropriating cooperative funds, funneling the money into private schools and real estate ventures.
On February 11, 2023, Yam Bahadur Rokka, the chair of Kumari Cooperatives, filed a formal complaint with the registrar’s office, demanding a detailed investigation. Financial analyst Nirmal Gautam, who led the investigation, confirmed the embezzlement of Rs1.49 million.
However, the Office of the Cooperative Registrar has faced criticism for its delayed response in filing a police report against Thapa, with some claiming that there was hesitation to take action. Myagdi police have now opened their own investigation into the case.
Thapa is affiliated with the ruling CPN-UML party.
