Lalitpur, October 16

Police yesterday arrested a repeat fraudster for cheating unemployed youths with the promise of government jobs.

Acting on complaints lodged by several victims, the Metropolitan Police Range, Jawalakhel, arrested Raj Kumar Chapagain, 42, of Tarkeshwor Municipality-3, Kathmandu from Balaju. He was last arrested by the Metropolitan Police Crime Division on July 11 and released on bail.

MPR Spokesperson DSP Dayanidhi Gyawali said he had swindled eight persons of Rs 4.2 million by assuring them government jobs. The eight persons are Deepa Maharjan, Rina Maharjan, Gyani Maya Tamang, Mamita Shrestha, Rima Magar, Devraj Thala, Raj Kumar Balami and Bimala Shah.

According to the police, Chapagain used to introduce himself to others as Dev Thapa and Dev Dangol. He was found to have used 12 SIM cards to make telephone calls to the victims.

Records at the MPCD show that he had earlier collected Rs 400,000 from Nileema Maharjan and Akriti Dangol of Baluwatar by assuring them the post of Kharidar (non-gazetted second class officer) at the Ministry of Home Affairs. He posed as an administrative officer of MoHA and even took the women up to Singha Durbar to take them into confidence.

He swindled the youths saying he had a very good ‘rapport’ with ministers and government secretaries, and that they do not need to sit for exams conducted by the Public Service Commission.

Similarly, Chapagain had cheated Shristi Ranjit and Sudeep Pandey of Rs 25,000 and Rs 171,500 respectively, promising them jobs at the Ministry of Health and Population. Police have appealed to all to lodge complaints if have been defrauded by Chapagain. He has been sent to the Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, for further action.