KATHMANDU – A press release and an audio message saying that GB Rai, who is on the run over cooperative fraud and organised crime charges, “wants to return to his country” have been made public.
In the audio released on Saturday by Setopati Online, Rai addresses “shareholders, savers, borrowers and the government” and speaks about cooperatives, companies and other matters. The statement attributed to him says he had expected “support and cooperation” from the government of the time but that, instead of help, savers were encouraged to file cases.
“Cases were registered in many places under various headings. The situation became so complicated that death threats began to arrive, and I was forced to go underground,” the statement says. “After that, a search was also carried out through international channels. I want to ask one question today: is my arrest the solution to this entire problem<”
Rai said that if arrest is the solution, he would appear himself, but that doing so would mean the billions of rupees of lakhs of savers would not be returned. “I request the government not to use joint force in searching for me. I am committed to managing the savers’ money within a fixed time through various alternative measures,” he said.
Rai’s brother-in-law, Gyan Bahadur Bamjan, listened to the audio received by Setopati and said the voice was Rai’s. “We have not confirmed Rai’s audio through a forensic lab,” Setopati said.
After the audio was made public, police officials said preparations are being made to verify its authenticity. “We learned that the audio has appeared in the media. We are trying to verify whether it is true or not,” one official said.
Rai is accused of embezzling the savings of thousands of ordinary people from cooperatives including Suryadarshan in Pokhara, Sahara in Chitwan, Sano Paila in Birgunj, Supreme in Butwal, Samanata in Nepalgunj and Swarnalaxmi in Kathmandu.
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