Former personal secretary of Accounts Committee President Rishikesh Pokharel nabbed

KATHMANDU: Anil Pokharel, former personal secretary to Rishikesh Pokharel, President of the Public Accounts Committee of the Federal Parliament, has been arrested on fraud charges. He was detained near the Morang District Police Office on Thursday morning.

Pokharel, 43, originally from Rangeli Municipality-2, Morang, and currently residing in Kathmandu, is also a member of the CPN-UML Morang District Committee.

He is accused of defrauding Rs. 38.8 million from Baulal Chaudhary, a 57-year-old resident of Bakdhuwa, Agnisair Krishna Savaran Rural Municipality-5, Saptari.

The money was allegedly taken with the promise of securing admission for Chaudhary’s daughter into an MBBS program.

Following a directive from the Biratnagar High Court, an investigation was initiated into the fraud allegations.

According to DSP Bed Prakash Joshi, spokesperson for the Morang District Police Office, Pokharel is now in custody, and the investigation has begun.

In light of the allegations, Pokharel has been removed from his role as the personal secretary to Chairperson Rishikesh Pokharel.

Separately, Pokharel’s wife, Anjila Koirala, has also faced accusations of cooperative fraud.

After being on the run, she appeared in court on Wednesday. She was released upon depositing Rs. 1 million as bail, following a court order.