Kathmandu — What began as a promise of higher education abroad has slowly unraveled into a painful story of deception. Nepal’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has officially stepped in to investigate a large-scale fraud case involving Nepali students who were allegedly cheated in the name of studying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The investigation follows a formal request made by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology through the Ministry of Home Affairs. Acting on this request, the CIB has begun a preliminary probe to understand the depth and structure of the scam.
“We have started an initial investigation to determine the facts of the case,” said CIB Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shiva Shrestha.
How the Case Came to Light
The case surfaced after 184 Nepali students filed complaints with the Consular Services Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The students alleged that several education consultancies in Nepal, working in coordination with institutes based in UAE “Free Zones,” had collectively defrauded them.
In their applications, the students demanded legal action against those responsible and requested the return of the money they had paid—often their families’ lifetime savings.
The process moved step by step through government channels:
- The Consular Services Department forwarded the students’ complaints to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- The Foreign Ministry sent its report to the Ministry of Education.
- The Education Ministry then formally requested the Home Ministry to involve the CIB.
Millions Collected, Promises Broken
According to the students’ statements, some consultancies charged NPR 800,000 to 1,000,000 per student, promising legitimate higher education opportunities in the UAE. However, Education Minister Mahabir Pun had earlier revealed that some of these consultancies were not even officially registered.
The students initially alerted the Nepali Consulate in Dubai, claiming that Nepal-based consultancies and UAE-based “training institutes” operating in Free Zones had worked together to mislead them.
Institutes That Were Not Universities
Many victims reported being sent to institutions such as British University College International – FZ (BICU) and Central Academy for Management Studies (CAMS). These institutes claimed to be universities, but investigations revealed troubling facts:
- They were registered only as training institutes, not universities.
- They lacked affiliation with recognized foreign universities.
- BICU claimed affiliation with the Paris-American International Institute, but this claim was found to be false.
- No valid academic degrees or certifications were provided.
Once students realized there was no real education, no proper campus, and no recognized qualification, they understood they had been trapped.
A Growing Web of Consultancies
Based on information provided by the victims, 18 education consultancies in Nepal were actively sending students to these UAE Free Zone institutes. Some of the consultancies named by the students include:
- Pro Aviation Pvt. Ltd.
- Satakshi Education Foundation
- Eduport Education Consultancy
- Shiva Hum Education Consultancy
- Oxbridge International Consultancy
- Merits International Consultancy
- Brightpath Education Consultancy
- Cityhub Education Network
- Aspire Global Education
- Kantipur Abroad Consultant
- City Park Education Consultancy
- Mentora Education Consultancy
- Excel International Education Pvt. Ltd.
- Saram I
- NTER International
- A.S. Education
- Sakura Nepal Consultancy Pvt. Ltd.
- Edugate Consultancy
Life on the Ground: The Students’ Reality
Students described a bleak reality after arriving in the UAE:
- Many institutes had no permanent buildings of their own.
- Classes were briefly held in rented apartments, then shifted online.
- Online classes were irregular or stopped altogether.
- Despite promises, institutes did not arrange jobs, forcing students to search for work on their own.
- After collecting large sums, some institutes reportedly cut off all contact with students.
More than 35 students initially lodged complaints through the Nepali Consulate in Dubai, prompting the first official alert to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On Kartik 27, four affected students personally visited the Foreign Ministry in Kathmandu to explain how Nepali students were being systematically misled.
What Happens Next
With the CIB now involved, the case has entered a crucial phase. Authorities are examining the role of consultancies, the legality of the institutes, and the financial trail behind the fraud. For hundreds of students and families, the investigation represents not just a legal process—but a fragile hope that justice, accountability, and recovery may still be possible.
This case stands as a sobering reminder: when dreams of education cross borders, truth must travel with them—or the cost becomes unbearably human.
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