Dev Kumar Nepali, mayor of Dhorpatan Municipality in Baglung, has been arrested in New Delhi, India, on charges of embezzling cooperative savings.

Nepal Police apprehended him on Friday, confirmed Tek Prasad Rai, acting chief of Nepal Police. He is being repatriated to Nepal following necessary diplomatic procedures.

In January, Interpol issued a red notice against Nepali at the request of Nepal Police.

Nepali is accused of embezzling over Rs1.5 billion from the Image Cooperative, where more than 1,500 depositors saved their hard-earned money. He founded and ran the cooperative in Baglung and Pokhara. While other officials involved in the scam have faced legal action, Nepali remained at large.

He is the founding chairman of the Image Cooperative.