Bara, December 21

A woman, who has defrauded dozens of people of millions of rupees, is on run with the money collected, at Piluwa of Jitpursimara Sub-metropolitan City, in Bara.

The alleged Nanu Maya Ghimire alias Shobha, 33, of the locality, was running a local eatery opposite Bhadrakali Armed Police Force Battalion gate at Piluwa for the past three years.

She collected more than Rs 12.25 million from about five dozen people promising them 36 per cent interest on the sums taken. Individuals, local cooperatives and financial institutions lent her the money. Her eatery was shown as main source of income to guarantee returns.

In-service police officers, elderly citizens, rickshaw pullers, villagers and women lent her varying amounts, according to Hari Dev Kharel, a local. Nanu maya allegedly withdrew more than Rs 2 million in their names from local financial institutions in the form of loan on high interest rates. Reportedly, she collected more than Rs 1.4 million from in-service police personnel, including senior head constable Amrit Tamang’s 3.5 lakh. Elderly Kul Bahadur Karki, 86, loaned her Rs 1.2 lakh while rickshaw puller Saila Regmi gave her Rs 50,000.

Lured by the high interest rate, the locals provided her huge amounts without legal documentation. As a result, they have not been able to file chargesheet against her with police.