5 people arrested from Pokhara for trading 300 million in betting and crypto
IT engineer Rupendra JC, who has been working in America for 10 years, returned to Pokhara a month ago. He was doing his PhD in America and came to Nepal on vacation.
He has a permanent home in Jaljala Rural Municipality-3 of Parbat and was arrested from his house on Pokhara-14 Anupam Marg on Friday. The police arrested five people including him on charges of online betting and cryptocurrency trading.
The police received a tip-off that suspicious activities were going on at Jisi's house. On the basis of that information, a team was deployed from Nepal Police Provincial Office Pokhara and District Police Office Kaski. Kaski police was commanded by SP Shyambabu Olia. The joint team arrested 5 people including JC and proceeded with the investigation. The other 4 people arrested are relatives of Ji. Kaski Police Chief Olia said that JC was seen as the main planner during the
investigation. According to him, JC had been in the US for a year and had been dealing in online betting and crypto. "It has been found that 150 million in online betting and 150 million in crypto currency is 300 million," he said.
In Nepal, Jiji used to mobilize his relatives. He used Bikram Baniyan and Sandeep Katuwal as agents of Nepal. 33-year-old Baniyan, who lives in Beni Municipality-5 of Myagdi and currently lives in Pokhara-14 Havelimarg, used to run a fancy shop in Pokhara's Chipledhunga. He is the son of Phupu of Jiji. 28-year-old Katuwal, originally from Raghuganga Rural Municipality-2 in Myagdi and currently living in Pokhara-14 Chaunthe, used to run a consultancy called Foot Step. He is Jisi's sister-in-law.
The police allege that Rojan KC and Sajjan Ghimire were involved in opening accounts in various banks and depositing the amount. 19-year-old KC from Myagdi Raghuganga was living in JC's house in Pokhara. He is the son of JC's younger mother, studying in the second year of graduation. A 22-year-old gentleman from Myagdi Beni was also living in the same house. He is the son of Jisiki Fupu, studying in the fourth year of graduation. The police have recovered various electronic materials used in crypto currency transactions and online betting from Jisi's house.
Police recovered 31 mobile phones, 2 computer monitors, 3 computer CPUs, 4 laptops, 1 iPad, 2 keyboards, 1 mouse, 4 routers, 3 pen drives, 1 hard disk, 1 multiplug, 11 chargers, 1 stand with USB port, 1 seal and 72,500 cash. SP Olia said that they have extended the deadline of 7 days for the offense of using immaterial currency and gambling or betting, and have proceeded with the investigation process.
