Police have arrested two more individuals on charges of committing fraud by carrying out fake rescues of foreign mountaineers.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police arrested Rajendra Bahadur Singh, former vice-chairman of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal, and Sandip Tiwari, operator of Royal Holidays Adventure company.
Tiwari was arrested by the police on Tuesday, while Singh was arrested on Wednesday morning.
According to the CIB, a total of nine people have now been arrested, including shareholders and operators of helicopter firms, trekking agencies, rescue companies, hospitals, and local agents of foreign insurance companies in Nepal.
Previously, on February 8, the CIB arrested Dr Girwan Raj Timilsina, chairman and medical director of Shreedhi Hospital.
The police have initiated an investigation against them under charges of acts contrary to national interest and organized crime.
On January 25, the CIB received information that organized fraud was being committed by collecting insurance money for foreign tourists who came to Nepal for mountaineering. At that time, the CIB arrested six people.
Those arrested were operator Jayaram Rimal and manager Bibek Pandey of Mountain Rescue Service Pvt Ltd, operator Rabindra Adhikari and operation manager Bibek Raj Thapaliya of Nepal Charter Service, and operator Mukti Pandey and manager Subash KC of Everest Experience and Assistance Pvt Ltd.
They were accused of declaring tourists ill, conducting helicopter rescues, admitting them to hospitals, and claiming insurance in an organized manner.
In 2018, the Ministry of Tourism had formed a task force and conducted an investigation into this matter. The CIB said that the investigation report from that time was also provided to the police.
Recently, in October 2025, the CIB received complaints about fake rescues. After receiving such information, the police moved the investigation process forward.
During the investigation, it was found that 171 out of 1,248 rescues conducted by Mountain Rescue Service were fake. Similarly, 75 out of 471 rescues by Nepal Chartered Service, and 71 out of 601 rescues by Everest Experience and Assistance were found suspicious.
Through such rescues, these companies had claimed USD 19.69 million (approximately Rs 2.87 billion) in insurance.
