The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has issued a diffusion notice against two people accused of cooperative fraud.

According to police, the notice was issued against Than Bahadur Budha Magar, incumbent chairman of Suryadarshan Savings and Credit Cooperatives, and former chairman Bhupendra Rai.

Superintendent of Police Mohan Thapa, also the spokesperson for the Kaski district police office, on Sunday, confirmed with the Post that the notice has been issued.

Earlier on Friday, the global law enforcement agency had issued a diffusion notice against Gitendra Babu (GB) Rai, the founding chairman of the cooperatives.

The district police office on December 21 had written to the head office requesting it to issue the notice against them.

A complaint has been lodged at the Kaski district police office accusing 19 individuals, including GB Rai, of embezzling over Rs1 billion deposited by people at the cooperatives. The case is under investigation.

The police had also got an arrest warrant from the Kaski District Court against them last year. Suspecting that they were hiding somewhere in Kathmandu Valley, the district police wrote to its head office seeking its support to arrest them. So far, the police have arrested Kumar Ramtel and two other individuals while 16 other accused persons are still at large.

Nepal is a member of the INTERPOL and Nepal Police can issue diffusion notices through the international body to arrest criminals for investigation.

GB Rai also co-founded Galaxy Television with popular television journalist Rabi Lamichhane, who is now chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party. Lamichhane later quit the television, subsequently formed the party and won an election for a federal parliament seat from Chitwan.

The television channel shut down its operations recently.