The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office arrested 40-year-old Bishal Kumar Chaudhary of Kanchanpur on Wednesday. Chaudhary, a fugitive in two banking crime cases totaling Rs 10 million, faced arrest warrants issued by the Kathmandu District Court and the Banke District Court, each involving Rs 5 million.
Police officials report a daily increase in banking offense cases, with the Kathmandu Valley registering the highest numbers. According to data from the Police Headquarters, 2,629 banking offense cases were recorded in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur from mid-July to mid-November this year, compared to 2,379 cases during the corresponding period last year. Nationwide, 4,359 banking crime cases were filed in the last four months, a rise from 4,190 cases during the same period of the previous fiscal year.
Valley Police Spokesperson SSP Bishwa Adhikari revealed that 57.77% of these cases originated in the Kathmandu Valley, while Karnali Province recorded the fewest banking crime incidents. SSP Adhikari attributed the rise in cases to increasing incidents of individuals knowingly issuing cheques without sufficient bank deposits, a trend that has escalated sharply.
“Despite the relatively low monetary value of some cases, the deliberate issuance of bad cheques and other forms of financial fraud have surged, overwhelming police resources,” SSP Adhikari said. He emphasized the need for a dedicated police unit and improved technology to handle the growing caseload of banking crimes effectively.
Beyond banking offenses, social crimes have also increased. Police data for the current fiscal year up to mid-November shows an average of 162 cases registered daily. These include 20 cases of suicide and 7 cases of rape per day, posing significant challenges for law enforcement.
