KATHMANDU: Industrialist Rakesh Agrawal has been arrested by the police on charges of not paying sugarcane farmers. He was arrested today by Kathmandu Police from Tripureshwor.

Agrawal is the proprietor of the Indira Sugar Mill and Agro Pvt Ltd, Nawalparasi and the Annapurna Sugar Mill Pvt Ltd, Sarlahi. His Nawalparasi-based industry is yet to pay Rs 85.89 million to the farmers while the Annapurna owes Rs 386.8 million to sugarcane growers for the supplies.

According to Kathmandu Police Range Chief Basanta Lama, the industrialist was detained today following the direction from the Nepal Police Headquarters. The direction came on the requests of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives; and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.