Pokhara, June 21:

Police have filed a case against the directors of Maya Group here today charging that they swindled hundreds of thousands of rupees from students, teachers and guardians on the pretext of organising a school level dance competition.

Police arrested Director Bikas Thapa and Managing Director Dipak Gurung of Maya Group located in Gairhapatan of Pokhara after they fled just before the dance contest scheduled for June 17 began.

The case against Thapa and Gurung was filed in District Court,Kaski following a complaint of

the Victims’ Agitation Committee formed by the school teachers and students on Tuesday,

Bhoj Raj Ojha, Deputy Superintendent of Police in Kaski, said.

The duo fled the programme venue on June 17 after guardians, teachers and students smelt a rat when the contest was delayed by two hours. They began demanding refund of their money which they had paid for participating in the programme. Police have also locked up Maya Group’s office at Gairhapatan.

Some 63 groups from different schools had signed up for the contest. The organisers sold tickets of programme priced at Rs 100 each through students. They had also assured to announce the winner among the students who sold maximum number of tickets.

Thapa hails from Kaski’s Sarangkot VDC, while Gurung is a native of Myagdi district.