Nepalese police arrest six for alleged mountain rescue fraud

Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has announced the arrest of a six senior stakeholders of several mountain rescue firms, on charges of allegedly committing insurance fraud.

The CIB stated that the arrested individuals held senior positions in three companies – Mountain Rescue Service, Everest Experience and Assistance, and Nepal Charter Service – that provide air rescue services to mountaineers and trekkers across Nepal.

The CIB alleged that the three companies “rescued foreign tourists who had health problems during trekking in the high Himalayan region of Nepal” with the aim of “illegally obtaining financial benefits”.

Specifically, the bureau stated that the companies falsified documentation and invoice details to make “false claims for insurance money, in the name of the rescue person”.

The CIB statement reported that “during the initial investigation, it was revealed that the aforementioned rescue companies received … an estimated $19.69 million as insurance claims from relevant foreign insurance companies”.

They added that the arrests were made with the permission of the Kathmandu District Court, and that further investigation was underway.

The individuals arrested under the charges are:

1. Jairam Rimal, Chairman and shareholder of Mountain Rescue Service
2. Vivek Pandey, Manager of Mountain Rescue Service
3. Suvas KC, Head of Operations and shareholder at Everest Experience and Assistance
4. Mukti Pandey, Chairman and shareholder at Everest Experience and Assistance, as well as a shareholder of Nepal Charter Service
5. Rabindra Adhikari, Chairman and shareholder at Nepal Charter Service
6. Vivek Thapalia, Operations Manager of Nepal Charter Service.

Robin Gauldie previously discussed the troublesome practice of helicopter rescue fraud in Nepal in the September 2023 ITIJ Air Ambulance Review.