Australia Dream Turns Into Rs 11 Million Fraud Nightmare; Accused Escapes Police Custody

 

Kathmandu. What began with a Facebook friend request and promises of helping secure a loan for higher studies in Australia ended in one of the country's most disturbing cyber fraud cases, leaving a young computer engineer defrauded of more than Rs 11 million and subjected to blackmail using intimate images.

The case, currently before the Kathmandu District Court, alleges that 22-year-old Manash Raj Sharma, of Jaleshwar Municipality-7, Mahottari, deceived the victim, whose identity has been withheld and is referred to as Sushriya Aryal (pseudonym), into transferring Rs 11,026,171 over several months before blackmailing her with nude photos and videos.

According to court documents, Sharma contacted the victim through Facebook using an account named "Sunuwar Aajikel", introducing himself as a bus entrepreneur. Knowing that the young engineer was preparing to pursue higher education in Australia, he allegedly claimed he could arrange a substantial loan to support her plans.

Loan Promise Turns Into Multi-Million-Rupee Fraud

Investigators say Sharma initially asked the victim to deposit a small amount as loan security. Trusting his assurances, she transferred Rs 20,000 from her grandmother's bank account.

He subsequently demanded additional payments, claiming they were necessary to process the loan. To make the scheme appear legitimate, he collected the victim's citizenship details and other personal documents to prepare forged loan-related paperwork.

Court records state that Sharma continued requesting money under various pretexts, including claims that he had been hospitalized or that his bank account had been frozen.

Believing the promised loan would eventually materialize, the victim sold land in Tokha owned by her grandmother, Neela Khattayouda Aryal, and also borrowed money from Vijayashree Multipurpose Cooperative.

According to the prosecution, she eventually transferred Rs 11,026,171 through accounts held in Global IME Bank, Laxmi Sunrise Bank, Nabil Bank, Nepal SBI Bank, and Siddhartha Bank into bank accounts belonging to Sharma, Deepika Bista, and Rabi Patel.

Nude Images Used for Blackmail

When the victim began demanding the return of her money, the case alleges Sharma changed tactics.

According to the charge sheet, he first asked her to meet him at a hotel in Sinamangal, claiming he would return the money there. After she refused, he allegedly demanded nude photographs and videos, saying he would release the funds only if she complied.

Believing it was the only way to recover her money, the victim allegedly sent intimate photos and videos.

Prosecutors say those images were later used to blackmail her. Sharma allegedly threatened to publish the material on social media, send it to her family, and falsely implicate both the victim and her grandmother in legal cases if she continued demanding repayment.

Arrest Followed by Escape From Custody

Following the victim's complaint, Nepal Police's Cyber Bureau launched an investigation and arrested Sharma on August 24, 2025.

Police recovered two mobile phones that investigators say contained evidence related to the fraud and blackmail. During interrogation, Sharma reportedly admitted receiving the money but claimed most of it had been handed over to friends Govinda Patel and Nishant Kumar, while he retained a commission of Rs 500,000.

However, the case took another dramatic turn when Sharma escaped from custody at Police Circle, Durbar Marg, on September 9, 2025.

According to investigators, he fled while police were occupied managing widespread public protests and clashes that occurred on September 8 and 9. He remains absconding.

Fraud Case Filed in Court

Despite his escape, the Office of the Government Attorney has filed a fraud case against Sharma at the Kathmandu District Court.

He has been charged under Section 249 of the Muluki Criminal Code, 2017, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment and a Rs 70,000 fine.

The prosecution has also sought recovery of the Rs 11,026,171 defrauded from the victim, along with appropriate compensation for the financial and psychological harm she suffered.

Cyber Bureau Warns of Growing Social Engineering Scams

Cyber Bureau officials say the case illustrates a common pattern in online fraud, where criminals exploit victims' ambitions and emotions before gradually gaining financial control.

According to investigators, fraudsters often begin by requesting small payments to build trust before escalating to larger financial demands and, in some cases, blackmail using sensitive personal material.

With Sharma still on the run, the victim continues to await justice while authorities search for the fugitive.

The case serves as a stark reminder of how online relationships built on false identities can quickly evolve into sophisticated financial fraud and cyber extortion, leaving victims to suffer not only significant monetary losses but also lasting emotional trauma.

पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: असार ३१, २०८३ १३:१९

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