Follow-up on investment scam involving BDS President Gurung

Kathmandu: Sanjib Gurung (Pinki, Sheetal), President of Blue Diamond Society, has been accused of embezzling thousands of rupees under the pretext of investing in a hydropower company.

She collected the sums from BDS members by promising them shares in the company named Bibeksheel Aadarsha Investment Company Pvt. Ltd. established back in 2017, and a double return on their investment, claimed the victims.

At that time, Gurung was associated with Dr Baburam Bhattarai’s Naya Shakti Party. Then the party assured that she would get a seat under the proportional quota. During the election campaign, she lured the victims into supporting her and her party financially by promising investment returns, they maintained.

The collected funds ranged from Rs 10,000 to Rs 200,000 each person.

The victims claim that they have had receipts for the collected funds. However, in some cases, Gurung took back the receipts to destroy evidence, they said. “When we asked about our investment, Gurung only said she would inform us later. But we are yet to get our money back.”

One of the victims is Purna Chandra Paudel, who invested Rs 50,000, said Gurung took back his receipt, and has not returned his money yet.

Gurung even issued threats to her if she filed a fraud complaint with the police, complained another victim who runs a beauty parlour in Kathmandu. Although the company is registered, the Office of The Company Registrar says no details have been updated since 2074 BS.

Despite efforts, Gurung could not be reached for comment.