KATHMANDU: Police have caught five people suspected of selling a counterfeit gold Buddha statue in Kathmandu, Nepal. The arrest came when Dinesh Neupane of Kageshwari-Manohara submitted a complaint alleging that Kalakar Das, originating from Odisha, India, tricked him with a false golden statue and illegally acquired Rs 3 million rupees. Das, aged 40 and residing in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu, was the primary suspect named in the complaint.

After receiving the allegation, a combined squad from Kathmandu's District Police Office and the Kadaghari Police Post arrested the suspects. Along with Das, the police apprehended 64-year-old Chhetra Bahadur Shahi from Lalitpur, 38-year-old Deepak Thapa from Dallu, 35-year-old Basanta Chaudhary from Lazimpat, and 55-year-old Rabin Maharjan from various places in Kathmandu. During the arrests, investigators recovered a fake gold Buddha statue and Rs 1.4 million in cash, which they suspect are tied to the fraudulent operations.

The investigation is ongoing as police work to gather further evidence and ascertain the extent of the group's alleged deception involving counterfeit goods. The suspects face charges related to fraud and the illegal sale of fake artifacts.