Nepal Police Shatters UAE Study Scam: Nine Consultancy Operators Arrested in Massive Student Fraud Bust
Nine education consultancy operators in Kathmandu have been arrested for defrauding Nepali students seeking foreign education in the UAE, sending them to unaccredited institutes while falsely promising credit transfers to France and Australia.
The dream of studying abroad just got a reality check for thousands of Nepali students. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has arrested nine consultancy operators in Kathmandu for allegedly running a massive fraud scheme targeting students aspiring to study in the United Arab Emirates.
The Mechanics of the Scam
According to police investigations, the suspects duped students by sending them to colleges that are not recognized by the UAE's Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA). Instead of legitimate universities, victims were enrolled in unapproved training institutes located in UAE free zones. The consultancies falsely promised that these courses offered credit transfers to prestigious countries like France and Australia, a claim that was entirely fabricated.
Superintendent of Police Shiva Kumar Shrestha, spokesperson for the CIB, confirmed that the accused collected fees ranging between Rs 800,000 and Rs 2.2 million per student under the pretext of facilitating higher education abroad. The investigation revealed that these institutions lacked the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE.
Key Names and Companies Involved
The crackdown has already targeted specific entities operating in Kathmandu. Arrested individuals include owners and managers from Best Path Education Pvt Ltd, Global Education Consultancy, Cityhub Education Network Pvt Ltd, and Kantipur Abroad Consultant Pvt Ltd. Specific suspects named include Krishna Thapa, Ramchandra Tandon, Subash Silwal Chhetri, Hemraj Bhatt, and Damodar Dhakal.
Based on complaints from at least 13 victims, authorities estimate that the wider scam may have affected more than 2,000 Nepali students. The Nepali Embassy in Abu Dhabi has also noted that several consultancies in Nepal have been sending students to unaccredited centers in UAE free zones.
A Growing Crackdown on Education Fraud
This arrest is part of a broader, aggressive campaign by Nepal Police to reform the education consultancy sector. Earlier this year, police raided 95 consultancies and arrested 69 operators for similar fraud allegations, including operating without registration and misleading students about institution quality. In June, another 18 operators from 15 unregistered consultancies were arrested in Kathmandu Valley.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) has recently urged students to use only renewed consultancy firms, publishing a list of approved operators for the 2025/26 fiscal year to help students avoid such pitfalls.
What Happens Next?
The CIB is currently conducting further investigations to determine the full scale of the fraud and to identify any other educational consultancies involved in the scheme. Police have stated that additional arrests are likely if the investigation uncovers further wrongdoing. The suspects have been taken into custody following court-issued arrest warrants under the National Penal Code.
For students planning to study abroad, the message is clear: verify accreditation strictly and use only government-approved consultancies to avoid falling victim to these costly and deceptive schemes.