The Kathmandu District Court on Tuesday convicted 14 individuals, including former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and former home minister Balkrishna Khand, in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.

The court acquitted seven others—Ram Sharan KC, Tanka Kumar Gurung, Sandeep Rayamajhi, Pratik Thapa, Laxmi Maharjan, Keshav Tuladhar and Ashish Budhathoki. Cases against defendants who are currently absconding have been kept on hold, with proceedings to resume in accordance with the law once they are arrested.

Those convicted include Rayamajhi, Khand, Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sagar Rai, Sandesh Sharma, Indrajit Rai, Govinda Kumar Chaudhary, Ang Tawa Sherpa and Tek Narayan Pandey.

In its brief order, the court stated that the convicted individuals were involved in organised fraud and committed offences against the state.

The court also found that, under the category of integrated offences, Khand, Tek Nath Rizal, Narendra KC, Shamsher Miya, Hari Bhakta Maharjan and Niranjan Kumar Kharel acted as accomplices in crimes against the state.

The cases against Ashok Pokharel, Dhiren Rai, Deepa Humagain, Niraj Rai, Rajesh Aryal, Mohan Raj Rai, Binita Limbu and Sunil Budhathoki have been kept on hold. The court said they would be prosecuted according to the law after their arrest.