Supreme Court Seeks Additional Documents in Bhutanese Refugee Scam Involving Prateek Thapa

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the submission of additional documents concerning Prateek Thapa, an accused in the high-profile fake Bhutanese refugee scam.

The directive was issued on Monday by a single bench of Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla following a hearing on Thapa’s application challenging his detention. Prateek Thapa, the son of former Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, is accused of involvement in the fraudulent scheme.

Thapa had appealed to the Supreme Court after both the Kathmandu District Court and Patan High Court ordered his detention for further investigation. According to SC Spokesperson Achyut Kuinkel, the bench has requested additional reports to assess the matter.

Prateek Thapa was arrested on June 29, 2024, in connection with the scam and initially sought legal recourse at the Patan High Court, challenging the Kathmandu District Court’s decision. However, after the High Court upheld the lower court’s ruling, Thapa moved to the Supreme Court, seeking release on bail.

The Bhutanese refugee scam has drawn significant public attention due to its alleged links to prominent figures and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals under false promises of refugee resettlement. Further developments in Thapa’s case remain closely watched.