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| Username | Post |
| ashu | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 04:50 AM
*************** A Nepalis unbelievable trail to super richness By Prateek Pradhan KATHMANDU, Oct 19 - Simply unbelievable! He boasts a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), owns a fleet of cars: Rolls Royce, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Ferrari, Audi and so on. He has prime residential properties in Los Angeles, Orlando, London, Paris, Madrid and elsewhere. Bill Clinton is his friend, knows George Bush, Kofi Annan, Tony Blair and other heads of state personally. He is not Bill Gates nor the Sultan of Brunei, but a Nepali. He is Dr Rasendra Bhattarai, 50, a Nepali turned British. The story of the bafflingly rich Bhattarai began 22 years ago in Kathmandu, when he was sent to jail for misusing a fax machine of the Agricultural Development Bank for his business purposes. The incident became the first turning point in his trail to super richness. Now, he is a billionaire - in US dollars terms, of course! "Hadnt I gone to the custody, I might never have become what Im today," he confessed exclusively to The Kathmandu Post and Kantipur Television (Watch his interview in FireSide, Kantipur TV at 8 PM today). It is beside the point that he refused an interview to Larry King of CNN.His quest to richness began with Rs. 100 (then US$5), which his late father Professor Chuda Nath Bhattarai handed him at the time of his departure to Bangkok. Thanks to a friend in Bangkok who trusted him with US$100,000."With the money I went to Singapore and to the Netherlands. By the time I was to start a business, I had already spent half the money." Bhattarai and a Thai friend discovered that most of the Chinese and Indonesian restaurants in the Netherlands used pink napkins and pink tablecloths. They soon got the contract to supply the pink items. "I love pink because with that business I earned about five million guilders," Bhattarai said. He also supplied sugar to China and Indonesia from South America, and cement to Bangladesh from Romania, Malaysia and Indonesia. He became a global merchant. The next turning point came to him when he supplied wheat to Russia in 1989. "Then I realised that I was going to be a rich man," he confided. The third turning point for this suave gentleman came while supplying Croatian ships to Indonesia. "An Indonesian friend, Mr. Tamrin, took me to an Indonesian Sultan, which turned my luck once again," he recounted. The believe-it-or-not event happened this way. The deceased father of the Sultan told him in a dream to have Bhattarai as his business partner. The next day, the Sultan himself offered him partnership in one of the worlds biggest trusts, HRH Sultan Hamengku Buwono X Trust Corporation. Now he is its president and CEO. "I also have established Uma Trust in Europe," he said.Dr Bhattarai is now in Nepal, and staying in the Gosaikund Suite of Soaltee Crowne Plaza. He has been paying US$900 per night for the last 60 days - a record in itself for the property. Despite having a nice house, seniors and wife Renu in Baluwatar, he opted to stay at Soaltee, probably because he is here with his business partner and friend, Poonam Singh. "Poonam is the one who encouraged me to return to my country after 22 years. Im indebted to her," he said.Two years after Bhattarais departure, his family lost all contacts with him. To entice his son back to Nepal, Professor Chudamani Bhattarai resorted to diplomatic help. In 1991-92, the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Paris refused to renew Bhattarais passport. "I had to take British passport as I languished without a passport for over a year," he said.Now that he is back home, he is willing to help Nepal. "Im sad that I havent been of any help to my motherland, yet," he said."With social security and insurance in health policies, I could bring big hospitals to Nepal," said the Nepali Midas. |
| ashu | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 05:16 AM
As a mere reader, what I found puzzling about this article is NOT that Dr. Bhattarai may well be a billionaire (he may be or he may not be!), but that a Fulbright-trained journalist such as Prateek would have a front-page story like this, based ENTIRELY on what Dr. Bhattarai said, and that too, WITHOUT even bothering to get corroborative quotes and evidence. Let me NOT be misunderstood: The news about a Nepali billionaire is certainly worth celebrating, but certainly NOT at the expense of suspending the basics of journalistic skepticism. oohi ashu ktm,nepal |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 05:25 AM
Congratulation Dr. Bhattarai! Unbelievable, but believable. |
| VincentBodega | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 05:25 AM
Comeon Ashu, You are just jealous that you didnt get to know/talk to this billionaire dude before Mr. Pradhan did. arent you now? < :) > The article is totally fine. -- BV |
| ashu | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 05:45 AM
VincentBodega, I knew I would be misunderstood. To address your concern: No. I am not jealous. On Sajha, in case you haven't noticed, I've often been celebrating/highlighting/publicizing other Nepalis' success for three years now, and would continue to do so. Sure, I like a good debate, but I am NOT the type who feels threatened or gets jealous when others do better. It's just that having dealt with a number of businessmen myself, I have learnt NOT to take what they say about themselves at face value, and without at least some sort of cross-checks. If Dr. Bhattarai's story adds up, well, more power to him!! That's all. oohi ashu ktm,nepal |
| hehe | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 05:55 AM
Yes Ashu, I am also skeptic about the information!! When I read the news in the Ktm Post this morning, I was happy to know that some Nepalese on this earth are also billionnaire. Coincidently, it is good to see the news item at this time when a british envoy said that Gurkhas get the same salary as the PM of Nepal gets, ridiculing the poverty of Nepal. However, there are no any credible sources the journalist quotes to verify the news. If Mr. Bhattarai was that rich and famous, why nobody knew about him before and why he has been discovered. Was he well known among any other big NRN business guys during the NRN meeting in Nepal? And if were so big and rich, at least in the UK, he would be known among Nepalese. I searched in the net to know about him, but with zero search results. I therefore doubt the authenticity of the news. hehe |
| VincentBodega | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 05:56 AM
Hello there ashuji, A little defensive eh? Seems like I heard a little sensitive side there. < :) > Again, I hope you understand that I was just teasing. -- BV |
| ashu | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 06:00 AM
VB, Your teasing me is fine. No problem. You allowed me to get my points across :-) Thank you for that. oohi ashu ktm,nepal |
| VincentBodega | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 06:01 AM
dude... who cares if Mr. Bhattarai is rich or not. May be someone made it up to cover the news paper. Its better than reading about the few Nepalese soccer players gone AWOL in Korea admist the tournament, or our PMs signing stupid treaties or even better was some cyclist going around the world for world peace. (I dont know how that adds up) Hoina ta? Well Mr. Bhattarai if the news about you is genuine and if you happen to be around the area I live in, I will buy you a drink. lauja ta. -- BV |
| Shikhar | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 06:17 AM
VincentBodega: Dr. Bhattarai may actually own the bar you would take him for the drink .. and the drink may even be distilled in a distillary he owns ... Even if Dr. Bhattarai is half as successful as the article suggests.... I still think it is a truly remarkable achievement for someone from Nepal and a true inspiration for all the struggling youth of Nepal. Now, if only Dr. Bhattarai would do something for Nepal, like he suggests he would, it was make his achievenments that much greater. |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 06:26 AM
How come DrBhattarai was not honored in that NRN meeting last week? |
| JhismiseBihani | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 07:03 AM
Liek ashu said, first of all, has this story been corroborated by a third party or is it entirely based on what Dr. Bhattarai said. I specifically find a following line a little strange, "The deceased father of the Sultan told him in a dream to have Bhattarai as his business partner. The next day, the Sultan himself offered him partnership in one of the worlds biggest trusts, HRH Sultan Hamengku Buwono X Trust Corporation. " Anyways, if he is as rich as this article claims to be, there should be something about him and his business somewhere online. What are the names of the companies he owns? Does anyone know? If it is true, then congrats to him. Its a great achievement but personally I would like to have his story verified. Yes I am jealous, but it's not a "leg-pulling" type of jealousy. |
| Rusty | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 07:10 AM
Dr. (!!!!) Bhattarai?? I am totally skeptic about this news. It looks like he devoted most of his life doing business all over the world after leaving Nepal with 100 bucks; I wonder how or where he achieved his degree of PhD or Medical Science? This article mentions that the billionaire, who refused an interview to Larry King of CNN, had an interview in FireSide, Kantipur TV at 8 PM today. Did anybody watch that? "Bill Clinton is his friend, knows George Bush, Kofi Annan, Tony Blair and other heads of state personally." Nobody could dig out this great person before Prateek Pradhan? |
| Askme | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 07:24 AM
Great Success story (if it is a true), I am hearing for the first time. But it is unbelievable that Dr.Bhattarai starts with Rs. 100(US$5) and end with billionaire today. By the way why Nepal Embassy denied of Visa in (91-92), what is the story behind it? Did he also add come money by corruption in Nepal? It is great that he realize that he has to help Nepal, but I hope that Nepali politicians and bureaucrats will allow him to do so without hindrances. |
| confused | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 09:24 AM
this might be true..but i am just having hard time to beilive this..such a big bilionere and cant find a single page on the internet about him??? even if you search my name a page can pop up..but Dr. Bhattarai being such a big personality and not a page on him?? why?? |
| patali | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 09:33 AM
dyammmmm!!!!!!!!!..paying 900 bucks for a night for past 60 days........starting off with 5 bucks and ending up with billion is surely not a joke...wow...pretty impressive and pretty inspiring for those of us who are getting discouraged ..Dr.bhattarai, you should probably open some sort of scholarship programe for those students who are trying to go abroad to reach their destination...how come this fact never got discolsed until today...pretty confusing huh... |
| mapletree | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 10:11 AM
I am not pulling leg of somebody but only concerned that the investigative story like this is not complete... He may be or he may not be... I don't care... but if he is how come he can hide his billions without anyone noticing it? Some questions: 1. We know people's wealth goes up or down depending upon Market and time. The yesterday's dot com billionaires are hard to find today and yesterday's poor like Ms. Rowling (Harry Potter creater) is richer than queen Elizabeth. So, as of when he is billionaire, year 2003, 2002, 2000 ? 2. Is there any documented proof of his total Asset? Forbes list world's all billionairs every year but Dr. Bhattarai isn't there. May be Forbes missed it but someone must have noticed it somewhere some point in the time. Some local newspaper, magazine, trade magazine... what about someone mentioning on web? 3. Is there any documents about all the company he is overseeing? If it is a public company then we would be able to find its executives easily? 4. Some one had a dream of choosing his/her partnership is like a story. Even they had a dream like that, did the dream also tell you his name and where to find him? quite strange... 5. Suppose, if I am a bonafide Nepali, Can Nepalese Embassy reject my application for renewel of Passport just because my father don't want it to happen? will it happen if he is a powerful? just wondering.... om Shanti |
| isolated freak | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 10:25 AM
Suppose, if I am a bonafide Nepali, Can Nepalese Embassy reject my application for renewel of Passport just because my father don't want it to happen? will it happen if he is a powerful? The answer is no. The "answer" to all you guys questions is in the article. Just read it carefully (if you have time), and focus on one of the European Links.. then everything will be qing chu lai (cleaR). |
| Ruby | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 10:26 AM
A Nepali spending around 60,000 dollars at a hotel in 2 months is definately enough to draw some attention. But a billionaire? I highly doubt it, there are only around 500 billionaires in the world, the fact that there is no mention of him anywhere on the web is really shady! |
| AX | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 10:32 AM
i did not see his name on the following link http://www.forbes.com/2003/02/26/billionaireland.html does he go by the another aliases . just wondering ........ |
| isolated freak | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 10:35 AM
also, were they using fax machines in Nepal 22 years ago? I think fax machiens came into existence a bit later, hoina? |
| NepaliThito | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 10:44 AM
Hi Folks, Its great news to know that we have a BILLIONAIRE from our country but in contrary i dont see his name anywhere on those BILLIONAIRE list. I totally agree with Isolated_freak, Ruby and AX. Just one cent thought, if we do the name search on GOOGLE with anybody's name we come up with at least few search results. But when i did a basic search on google with the Name of New BILLIONAIRE Dr Rasendra Bhattarai, i came with none.... That is weird. May be he is a real BILLIONAIRE but i really dont believe and i dont want this to be SCAM. I sometimes think may be he is in NEPAL to GET BILLION DOLLARS making people ULLLU.. HAHAHAHHA NepaliThito |
| yatree | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 11:05 AM
Warning! Enough suspicious news. So easy to get British passport? A Professor father gives Rs. 100 to foreign bound son? Anyway, further research is needed. Ashu, we may need to warn the Nepali unsuspecting investors. Read this: "It is highly recommended that investors do NOT invest with any person whose name appears on either this list or Diligizers Black List. If some of the parties named on this list feel that they have sufficient evidence to make one revise one's opinion of them, they should feel free to submit this evidence in care of the Diligizer. (Some names may be spelled in a number of different variations. The spellings that were provided have been retained, even if incorrect.) ... ... BHATTARI, Dr. Rasendra - Madrid, Spain ... ... The link is: http://pub54.ezboard.com/fhighyieldfinanceforumsfrm3.showMessage?topicID=324.topic&index=11 Please do more research if anyone here has time. It may save a Nepali his hard earned money. Thanks. |
| Kumar Prasad Upadhyay | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 11:06 AM
Not to take any glory away from Dr. RB, I too find it a bit strange that not only is he not listed by Forbes (80 billion NRs would qualify him), it appears even his Indonesian Sultan friend is not on the list. The 2003 list has only one Indonesian, and the name does not read like a formal name of an honorary Sultan. Plus, some of you have already tried a search on Dr. RB's name to no avail. I did the same with the name of he trust and found nothing. Strange that one of the largest foundations in the world does not appear once in an internet search! If you do a search with just the name of the Sultan after whom the foundation seems to have been named, you get nearly 700 links. Subject to further evidences which I am sure many of our creative researchers at Sajhapur will come up with, I am beginning to conclude that while this man may have struck gold, he did not strike as much gold as would be required to make him a kharab-pati, as Kantipur's headline suggests. KPU |
| Ruby | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 11:07 AM
The only explanation why his name is not in the press could be because of the illegimate nature of his business. Forbes deos not list drug lords/smugglers/corrupt people(like Pablo Escobar) on thier list of world's richest people. There much be a bunch of people engaged in illegal activities that have a billion bucks. Look at the merchandise . Supplying wheat to Russia in the late 80's? South American Sugar to communist China? |
| john doe | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 12:20 PM
Yatree, that was a great piece of detective work! Ashu, I think Yatree has just unearthed what could prove to be great fodder for your next NT column. I am already looking forward to it. I think this guy's out to con some major cash from unsuspecting Nepali investors. I wouldnt be surprised if he's peddling another pyramid scheme right this minute! JD |
| AX | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 12:28 PM
Bravo yatree, great piece of work. |
| RBaral | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 12:44 PM
There definitely is a suspicion, but it is still too early to conclude. I don't know the authenticity of ezborad.com forum Yatree has referred to. Regarding Dr. Bhattarai's accomplishment, I completely agree with Kumar Prasad Upadhyaya. Rishi |
| VincentBodega | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 12:47 PM
ok the story on Mr. Bhattarai was fake. I just made it up. |
| shirish | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 01:14 PM
"Behind every great fortune, there is a crime". |
| confused | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 02:05 PM
ahhahahahahahhahhahahha thats it.. |
| confused | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 02:08 PM
i am not laughing at Mr. bhattarai..but the journalist who wrote such kind of article without examining any facts..i think that kind of jurnolisim shud not exist...period.. |
| KaLaNkIsThAn | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 02:20 PM
Tyo moro ko chor-chori cha ki chaina? Adopt sadopt gareta ma ni Bahamas jaathe ni... cruisin' sruisin' dina!!! yatreee good job!! I hope our sajhaities in Kathmandu will do some detective work and FOIL this dauter saab's kartut.. he is upto something... for sure.. eh.. YIII SAAAB NAATAK HUNN NAATAKK..... (guff chai attinai chodya ho yaar... hehe!! Mannu parcha.) Broook, where is your kammar peti, kalo chasma and carrot??? ehe!! Lilo hazur ni utai hoibakshincha, do not worry... eh |
| dautari | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 02:43 PM
Well, Kantipur Publications along with all other papers does cook up some stories sometimes. |
| Putali7 | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 02:50 PM
Hey who is nepali billionaire and what's his name ni and where he resides?? Just curious.. Putali:) |
| Putali7 | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 02:51 PM
Hey who is nepali billionaire and what's his name ni and where he resides?? Just curious.. Putali:) |
| DWI | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 02:55 PM
I guess everybody is talking about it now. Ashu is right on the dot about the researching capability of the reporter, or lack there of. The line that intrigues me more is: "Thanks to a friend in Bangkok who trusted him with US$100,000". Hmmmmm. Whether he obtained the 'loan' legitimately or othewise, one thing for sure this story is not a rags-to-riches one. Yatri and Ax, thanks for further clarification. You guys should've been given the fullbright scholarship for journalism instead. Just wish we will get to see a legitimate Nepali Billionaire, hopefully Mr. Bhattarai is the one. |
| jhor | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 07:20 PM
This guy seems like a shady operator. |
| jhor | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 07:21 PM
Shady Operator |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 07:39 PM
I believe the news to be verified. If the guy is so filthy rich, it doesn't show anything in googling, neither Dr Rashindra Bhattarai nor Uma Trust. Ashu, as a business columinst in Nepali Times can do. |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 08:29 PM
The pieces of puzzles in the story doesnt fit together.... |
| le chef du nuit | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 09:41 PM
has anyone checked to see if anyone named rasendra bhattarai ever worked at the ADB 22 years ago? |
| meamigo | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 10:19 PM
yo gafadi Dr. Bhattarai ho...k aja bhanda 20yrs agadi nepal ko office maa fax machine thiyo ra fax machine case maa jail jana lai.......haad huncha ni guff hanne pani yaar! |
| yatree | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 10:29 PM
IF it is too good to be true, it probably is. However, before discrediting Rasendra, some verification is in order. In the meantime, hold on to your wallets/purse/thailo fellow Nepalis! In addition to the questions raised above about his background: Doctorate in economics, ok. but from where? I don't think he got it after he left the country, because he was busy supplying pink restaurant supplies. Twenty-two years ago, there was absolutely nobody sent to jail for using office fax-machine for his business purpose. I never heard of it. Goes to Paris himself to buy perfume! No department store or perfumery elsewhere? He has residence/investment/business in California, Florida, U.K., Spain etc., still has to go to Paris to buy perfume? He established Uma Foundation in Spain and claims it is the largest in Europe and America. Yet nobody knows about it, no mention anywhere, and nothing found with Google. President, CEO, and partner of HRH Sultan Hamengku Buwono X Trust Corporation , but nobody, in Nepal and abroad, knew about it? He should have been mentioned at least in AsiaWeek. Aamma ko sewa garne bhanchha, but mother is living in Baluwatar and he lives in Soaltee. Now, I'm running out of time. Later ... Isn't it funny he showed up in Nepal when Shobhraj was being arrested ... :) |
| jhor | Posted
on 20-Oct-03 11:36 PM
By the way NFG stands for Nihilistic Fraudulent Gurus |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 01:14 AM
I don't see a single Sultan from Borneo in the World's Billionnaire's club that list top 118 people that range people with networth from 3b to 54b. Check the link. - http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/02/28/forbes.htm |
| ashu | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 05:47 AM
Prateek Pradhan is a good, competent reporter. I think he slipped on this one. But knowing him, I am sure, he himself, being a first-rate professional that he is, has realized what he has done. Who knows, perhaps he, as an employee, was under an intense pressure from his bosses -- who are NOT from journalism background -- to 'sensationalize' the story anyway. On a larger note, as Kantipur Publications gets, ahem, all the more corporatized, and as some of its staff (who identify themselves as "media executives" as though they were running AOL-Time Warner!!) get to hobnob with and bask in the glow of super-rich NRNs and RNs, I, as a reader and a wellwisher, hope that some decent folks at that Publications still remember the old-fashioned reason why people like me buy a newspaper everyday: To read the news that one can trust. ****** Thanks Yaatri for your remarkable contribution. With a little more masala, this thing could serve as template for my next NT column. KPU, at the recent Sajha gathering, we all wondered who you are in real life. :-) oohi "tired and hungry at 6:39 pm at the office" ashu ktm,nepal |
| ashu | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 05:48 AM
Prateek Pradhan is a good, competent reporter. I think he slipped on this one. But knowing him, I am sure, he himself, being a first-rate professional that he is, has realized what he has done. Who knows, perhaps he, as an employee, was under an intense pressure from his bosses -- who are NOT from journalism background -- to 'sensationalize' the story anyway. On a larger note, as Kantipur Publications gets, ahem, all the more corporatized, and as some of its staff (who identify themselves as "media executives" as though they were running AOL-Time Warner!!) get to hobnob with and bask in the glow of super-rich NRNs and RNs, I, as a reader and a wellwisher, hope that some decent folks at that Publications still remember the old-fashioned reason why people like me buy a newspaper everyday: To read the news that one can trust. ****** Thanks Yaatri for your remarkable contribution. With a little more masala, this thing could serve as a template for my next NT column. KPU, at the recent Sajha gathering, we all wondered who you are in real life. :-) oohi "tired and hungry at 6:39 pm at the office" ashu ktm,nepal |
| Shikhar | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 06:17 AM
Can we name this saga - SAJHAGATE Part II. (Dr. Rasendra Bhattrai Fraud) I would have to say SAJHAGATE Part I is the Puskar fraud. If NFG LIST is a real list ... I hope he gets outed for who he is ... Thanks everyone from bringing the real Rasendra Bhattrai to light .... Almost fell for his story. |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 06:42 AM
George Soros, who made few billions of dollars through his articulate foreign currency trading strategy and crashing Bank of England one time is also a well published philanthropher. But making billion US dollar (not Nepali or Indonesian Rupiya) is not a joke by supplying pink paper or supplying wheat, etc., unless he has global monopoly on the trade of those commodities. |
| saroj | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 10:12 AM
The Sajha Post Kathmandu, October 21, 2003 His Majesties graced a dinner party hosted at the Gosaikunda Suite of Soaltee Crowne Plaza by the billionaire ex-Nepali Dr. Rasendra Bhattarai. His Majesty the King conferred upon Dr. Bhattarai the prestigious Gorkha Dakshin Bahu 1st class on this occassion. Before the dinner, His Majesties and Dr. Bhattarai had a 5 hours closed door meeting to discuss alternate development strategies for Nepal. |
| Nirvana | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 10:15 AM
There is an another reporter, Sanjay Neupany, writes about Mr. Rasendra on today's 10/21/03, "Kantipur". Check this out. I am really surprised and bemused now... http://www.kantipuronline.com/php/pramukh.php#8 |
| yatree | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 10:41 AM
Nirvana, that was yesterday's news. The Kantipur Daily link has not been updated. Saroj, :) Almost believable, hoina? |
| MapleTree | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 03:00 PM
This is really funny!!! 1. He goes to Paris to buy Perfume and Italy to buy clothes. Even with billions to spare, he couldn't find anyone doing it for him or can't get it delivered so that he have to go himself. So he spends all his time on shopping and grocery list then when do he build his empire? 2. He has the biggest trust in USA and Europe.. Have you guys heard about Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with 40 billions in asset. That fund itself is worth several times his net asset. 3. If he has his Boeing Business Jet, it should be parked in Tribhuvan Airport right? This should be very easy to verify 4. If he is coming Kathmandu on business trip, what it is taking him so long to complete that he is here for last 60 days. In Nepal if you can pass money around, you get all your work done in a week. 5. If he is that philanthropic in nature, what he is doing in Crown Plaza burning 900 dollars a day? He could have already set a nice charity foundation with more than $54,000 he wasted in Soaltee and stayed in decent Hotel. Another thing struck in my mind, in kantipur they are quoting his wife of more than 22 years and he is staying in hotel with Poonam Singh... something doesn't add up 6. This guy is a bigtime fraud... we need to alert general public in Kathmandu before he can cook something big and vanishes 7. Prabhu lai prakat huna kin teti dherai time lageko ni? Om Shanti |
| nepali_angel | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 04:40 PM
Hmm, what they can, and **must** have verified is whether he's really staying in the most expensive room in Soaltee Hotel for 2 months for $900 a night. Wow, that comes to be a pretty big sum, which your average Joe cannot afford. If he really is, then that means the guy has to be rich. Nobody in his sane mind is gonna spend so much money if he isn't filthy rich, instead of choosing to stay with his relatives, or at least in some more modest hotel. This is something that CAN be verified very easily, and I hope the journalist has done so. Secondly, if this guy is really into swindling and such, then why the hell is Madrid, Spain still allowing him to stay there? The blacklist, IMO, is probably the work of some unsatisfied customer trying hard to denigrate Bhattarai's good name. Hahaha, that's funny. The info against Bhattarai was pulled from some EZBOARD message board. How the hell can you all put so much faith in a stupid EZBoard messageboard? All infos in a messageboard are not always correct. It's just like Sajha forum! Also, this so-called NFG doesn't even exist. I have searched for it everywhere! I tell you, it's created by some fellow(s) who has/have vendetta against Bhattarai. Here is a MUCH BIGGER list of marked individuals, and I don't see Bhattarai's name here. This creation of blacklist also tells me that Bhattarai has to be some known figure, although not necessarily a criminal. http://216.157.37.167/dbl/bl.htm |
| nepali_angel | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 04:45 PM
Okay, and I also think that him being a billionaire is not true. He's probably filthy rich, but not a billionaire. Also, looks like this news has been covered better by Nepali newspapers. There are in fact people out there who have visited him in the United Kingdom or wherever and were surprised that Nepalis so rich existed. |
| nepali_angel | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 04:46 PM
By Nepali Newspapers, I mean in Nepali bhasa. |
| yatree | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 07:18 PM
Nepali_angel, You are free to believe what you want. The NFG list exists at http://www.nfgmn.org/ , however, you need to be paying member to get into it. Some brokerage firms, or financial institutions may give you access to the group. For fear of lawsuit, the organization will not put any name on the list without valid complaint. He may be rich, but he is rich through dui-number-ko-dhandha. People need to be careful, that's all. You know there are a lot of criminals roaming freely. Committing crime doesn't always equate being behind bars. I don't know if he graduated from a college. The doctorate, if he has a certificate, must be from a mail order place. The people who know him tell me that he was gaffadi from a very young age. His goal was to be rich through smuggling and other shady deals. I was told: when he was in Nepal long time ago, he took Kayur Shamsher (I don't know him, must be some rich Rana) for a drink. Whe Kayur was drunk, Rasendra disappeared with his diamond ring :) Just wait and see ... |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 07:43 PM
Rasindra news must be the' talk of town' in Nepal, as it was a headline news in Kantipur/KtmPost. Is he under some kind of survellance or getting Royal treatment? |
| ashu | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 08:19 PM
My sources in Kathmandu tell me that someone -- an employee -- at Soaltee Crown Plaza Hote "sold" this story to the Kantipur Publications as a way to generate free publicity for the hotel. Nothing wrong with that. For some time, Hyatt Regency, with its Punjabi lady manager, in giving stiff competition to all other established hotels in Kathmandu. Kantipur Publications, then, in a fit of enthusiasm, got carried away, giving Dr. Bhattarai mega-exposure through its publications and the television . . . and all that, WITHOUT even bothering to do any background check on Dr. Bhattarai!! For some time, rival newspapers such as The Himalayan Times (English) and The Annapurna Post (Nepali) have been kicking Kantipur Publications' butt, and the antipur people have been sucked into running the TV station, which has yet to make any money. [Suffice to say that Bhattarai, with his close-to-the-Palace ties led a colorful life in Nepal, in the company of late Dhirendra Shah et al, before he had to run away from his country of birth in the '70s.] Meantime, Kantipur journalists should demand to see Dr. Bhattarai's authentic hotel bill so far. They will be pleasantly surprised that the total so far is a lot less than what they have been led to believe. :-) Yes, Dr. Bhattarai is indeed quite rich, certainly a lot richer than most of us. But a billionaire " in US dollar terms, of course"? There are plenty of room for doubt. Finally, I can't help thinking that if Dr. Bhattarai were a woman, she would make a great central character in a, say, Sidney Sheldon novel set in Kathmandu. :-) oohi ashu ktm,nepal |
| dautari | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 08:22 PM
Thanks ashu dai ... for clearing up some clouds of confusion |
| Biswo | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 08:54 PM
Lots have been said about Mr Bhattarai already. What I noticed in the Kantipur news of that day is that he was a (convicted) criminal and he had spent seven days in jail before he left Nepal. This thing is verified. I don't know Indonesia has any sultan, it has a presidency system. However, I know there are some Indonesians who were kings earlier, like the Maharajah of India. I remember reading about one of them also in the past. Indonesia is a funny place. A few years ago, Suharto's children were fighting for a share of gold mine that one Candian firm claimed existed in Indonesia. Later it turned out that there existed no such gold mine.So, yes, it is a perfect place where a man without name can ride a horse into, and trigger his bullet into a perfect target of a billion dollars. Nepal is even more interesting place. If I remember correctly, long ago when Lokendra Chanda was prime minister and Dr Lohni himself was finance minister(I am not very sure about this), a group of Indians came to Nepal, stayed in fancy hotels and wanted Nepal Rastra Bank to get a billion dollar loan for them. This scandle , which sucked in prime minister and his finance minister, governors and a lot of others, is known as Arab Kaanda. So, I won't be surprised if the tale of Dr Bhattarai turns out to have other twists and turns. I mean, it is hard for me to believe he got US$1,00,000.00 to start a business from a friend, blame my middleclass upbringing, and he parlayed that into a multibillion dollars business while keeping their family in dark. A perfectly sane person would often tell his family first when he earns his first one million, I guess. And this gentleman, in a perfect laauhure style, thinking that nepal is as stupid as it was when Shahs ruled and he lived in their cozy company twenty years ago, says , among other things, his foundation is the biggest one in Europe and USA. I mean what about Ford Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates foundation with their billions of dollars worth and widely believed ranking of being 2nd and 1st biggest foundation in USA? |
| jhor | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 10:41 PM
If you read today`s Drishti Saptahik, then the picture becomes clearer about the billionaire. He actually ran away from Kathmandu at that time maybe taking some idols or who knows drugs to Thai where he received the payment for it. |
| Lalupate*Joban | Posted
on 21-Oct-03 10:47 PM
Yes, Ashu, this Bhattarai character seems to have those Sidney Sheldon trappings. |
| lonely1 | Posted
on 22-Oct-03 03:03 AM
Read Tuesday's Disti and Wednesday's Jana Astha for further information on the true color of this fake billionaire! |
| DP | Posted
on 22-Oct-03 04:32 PM
Review these facts.If you still believe that story, you are really stupid. 1) He went to jail (in Nepal hahaha) for misusing a govt office fax machine. 2)Went to Singapore only with $5 in hand. 3)Someone let him borrow $100k immediately. 4)He spent $60k in hotel within 2 months. 5)Started pink paper business and started selling ships to a country. 6)Someone let him become 50% partner in his world's largest trust without knowing him(forget the investment). 7)He has BBJ and goes to Nepal in what RA flight? 8)His name is in International Black List. 9)Such a big businessman remained in France(?) without passport for whole one year. 10)He couldn't get passport renewed from Nepalese embassy (hahahaha....may be he didn't have Rs 500 to bribe a Kharidar there). 11)He didn't contact his family until he earned the billion. 12)He has businesses around the world and he has 3 months to spend in Nepal. 13)He has a wife in Nepal who waited for him for 22 years and he is sleeping with another girl in Soaltee. 14)He took 5 years break from his business to do his PhD in Economics(from where? we don't know). There might be 1000 other points which prove that he is a fraud................The sad thing is that he started using his tricks in Nepal. |
| madhesi | Posted
on 22-Oct-03 06:59 PM
Here is eye-poping info on Nelap billionaire: http://www.nepalhorizons.com/nhc_bbs/messages/7986.html |
| madhesi | Posted
on 22-Oct-03 07:00 PM
ere is eye-poping info on Npali billionaire: http://www.nepalhorizons.com/nhc_bbs/messages/7986.html |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 22-Oct-03 07:06 PM
- http://www.nepalhorizons.com/nhc_bbs/messages/7986.html |
| sparsha | Posted
on 22-Oct-03 07:20 PM
Someone sneaked in again in renounced and forbidden space and the boss does not even know or what? Perhaps the message overshadowed the personality or I am in the fog? |
| sankaa | Posted
on 22-Oct-03 10:20 PM
Very good points NP. |
| VincentBodega | Posted
on 22-Oct-03 11:03 PM
And who do you think you are? The smartest guy of all here? Lets see what you wrote? 1) He went to jail (in Nepal hahaha) for misusing a govt office fax machine. Do you have anything to prove otherwise 2)Went to Singapore only with $5 in hand. I left Nepal with less than that in my HAND. 3)Someone let him borrow $100k immediately. Not just anyone... friends do that. 4)He spent $60k in hotel within 2 months. Why isnt this possible? I know someone who lost more than that much money in a casion in less than a week. 5)Started pink paper business and started selling ships to a country. Again whats there not to believe in this? Can you imagine how much the person who thought of postits must be worth right now? Those seem more trivial than pink Napkins 6)Someone let him become 50% partner in his world's largest trust without knowing him(forget the investment). Again not just someone... 7)He has BBJ and goes to Nepal in what RA flight? Now you have his flight itineray? I have a pretty decent car, which has seats lot comfortable than the RA flight seats, but I still use RA. 8)His name is in International Black List. Are you sure they are both the same person? For example do a search in your name in google? May be you will be surprized. 9)Such a big businessman remained in France(?) without passport for whole one year. I dont even know what you are trying to get at with this 10)He couldn't get passport renewed from Nepalese embassy (hahahaha....may be he didn't have Rs 500 to bribe a Kharidar there). I will let you enjoy this one 11)He didn't contact his family until he earned the billion. And who told you this? 12)He has businesses around the world and he has 3 months to spend in Nepal. "ignorance is bliss." Earn your billion may be then you will find out that you can afford it too. There are things called internet, phones and faxes even in Nepal 13)He has a wife in Nepal who waited for him for 22 years and he is sleeping with another girl in Soaltee. Tell me who is sounding like Sidney Sheldon here Ashu 14)He took 5 years break from his business to do his PhD in Economics(from where? we don't know). Just cuz you dont know means its false? After reading your pool of knowledge and reasonings, if that was true, we would be living in a pretty barbaric world. There might be 1000 other points which prove that he is a fraud................The sad thing is that he started using his tricks in Nepal. No the sad thing is people like should ming your own business. Has he done anything to you? NO........Then why do you care? This is to all the people out there. People are making a criminal out of him. If anyone should be blamed for this, from Ashu's story, is that journalist. Did someone say he is a Fullbright student. Shame on him and his audacity to print a stolen story. Thats pretty lame. Now ladies and gentleman thats a shame. Living off someone else's life story. Again, if this dude is infact a crook, then too if he has the skills and intentions to "cheat" people YOU ALL have no right to stop him. He can be caught and tried in the court of law thats all. You have no right to pass judgements on his personal life. Keep it to yourself. |
| sankaa | Posted
on 22-Oct-03 11:35 PM
Hereeeeeee yooooooooooouuu goo ppppeeepzzz here comes the REVOLUNATARY, CHARASMATIC, HARD CORE, SOPHISCATED, ENGLIGTINING , the one and only eye opener Miissssssssssssssssterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr(rrrr in spanish accent ;) ) VINCENTBODEGAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. ------- vincent ji, why are you so excited. take it easy , this is just a message board, not a CIAA or FBI interrogation center. WE come here and chat about everything- prettymuch.. people talk here about thier boyfriends, better way of having sex, verginity, illegal status, children, MTV, hip hop, cultural diffrences and what not- you name it... let the people speak. Please don't tell us what do talk and what not to. If something is brought up in here then it is certainly worthy of talking. NP wasn't blaming the richie rich, he was simply being skeptical on what was written about the guy. And trust me , every guy with rational mind would be skeptical by such story. I don't know if it is true or not. Howerever, if it is true then the guy is lucky and good for him. If it is not true then shame to the Nepali media for exaggeration and not doing good research. But we as free humans, having prevelleged to live in a free society, tend to think rationally and express our views freely. Please do not try to shut us up. btw, you travelled with less than $5 ... wow then you must have made a serious progress in your life to have that comfortable car. Good for you... next time try travelling in that car with less than $5 and use it instead of RA to go to Nepal... my best wishes... |
| Shikhar | Posted
on 23-Oct-03 05:25 AM
VincentBodega: >>Again, if this dude is infact a crook, then too if he has the skills and intentions to "cheat" people YOU ALL have no right to stop him. He can be caught and tried in the court of law thats all. You have no right to pass judgements on his personal life. Keep it to yourself. - Dude, you need to stop smoking whatever it is, you were smoking when you wrote this. I am sure if a thief is stealing from your neighbour's house and you are aware of it, you are going to do nothing about it, right? cause you have no right to stop the thief. You are not even gonna call the police but sit on your hands and watch the show. Its not your problem, correct? I dunno about you, but I am extremely pleased that my fellow countrymen and women are being skeptical about all the claims made about this shadowy character. If 2 and 2 doesnot add up to be 5, it is very healthy to ask questions and be skeptical. After being amazed and inspired initially by the achievements of Rasendra, all the skeptics have made me aware of how things do not add up in the initial report and that there is no proof around to verify the claims. If it turns out that Rasendra is a true gentlemen than its well and good, everyone will admit their error and he will get the respect he deserves, but on the other hand if he turns out to be the con man that he is made out here and swindels our king and countrymen of whatever little wealth we have left, it could affect all of us tremendously. In this case, I would rather be skeptical and cautious than be blind and foolish... |
| Nirvana | Posted
on 23-Oct-03 09:08 AM
VincentBodega: ""7)He has BBJ and goes to Nepal in what RA flight? Now you have his flight itineray? I have a pretty decent car, which has seats lot comfortable than the RA flight seats, but I still use RA. "" Hey Bro- does your car fly too? If it is then what kinda of car is it? I rather fly on car than airplane.... :-) I know time counts too. Hmmmm!!Didn't Rasendra supposed to have Boing Jet and I am not sure what do you use Jet for... |
| VincentBodega | Posted
on 23-Oct-03 10:23 AM
Sankaa, Your freedom of speech ends where I can hear/read what you think/write about a person without legitimate backing. I reason I went after few people here was that were making a criminal out of this guy without a chance for him to say anything. Well if you really care about this issue then contact him and make him speak. Freedom is not I am good as you, its rather you are good as me. Shikhar wrote: >>Dude, you need to stop smoking whatever it is, you were smoking when you wrote this. I am sure if a thief is stealing from your neighbour's house and you are aware of it, you are going to do nothing about it, right? cause you have no right to stop the thief. You are not even gonna call the police but sit on your hands and watch the show. Its not your problem, correct?>> WRONG!!! first of all dont call me a dude Next, you mentioned police, thats a part of law ... you can apply that here too. I totally agree. I would as you said call the cops and have them deal with it. You have no right to go to a thief and start using your own law on him. That will make you a criminal too. Thats a little criminal justice 101 for you Nirvana, Is there a hanger for private jets in Nepal? Let me answer that for you. NO... thats answers your question. Again, I dont know if this guy is again fake or true and as a matter of fact I dont care. If you care and have an opinion and if I read it, you know who will be asking questions to back your opinion up. Take it easy. -- BV |
| L-a-x | Posted
on 23-Oct-03 11:31 AM
Dristi ma ta maile kehi pani bhetina ..but I saw one in jana Aastha....is that what was referred to as above?? |
| sankaa | Posted
on 23-Oct-03 12:08 PM
Vincent said: Your freedom of speech ends where I can hear/read what you think/write about a person without legitimate backing. --- Vincent, do you even know what freedom of speech means, or are you trying to practice some kind of intimidating tatics on me? My freedom of speech ends where you can hear/ red what i think/write about a person without legitimate backing?? what the hell are you talking about? Who are you that if you hear or read anything then it disqualifies from freedom of speech???? That is not what freedom of speech means , my friend. WEll legitimate backing is the only party that i can take from your sentence up there. "legimitate backing" for us to be skeptical and write about the article is the irrational happennings that are on the stories. eg: travelling to different country with $5 in his pocket, getting 10000K at that time from a friend, someone making him 50% partner just like that and stuff. Whether this guy is very very very very lucky or the stroy is not true. Please do some research on freedom of speech for your own information. With regards, Sankaa |
| Logical Sense | Posted
on 23-Oct-03 12:40 PM
For me I think the story is not that fascinating. Most of us started with what he started with, but, he may have finished with a SPLASH than many of us would like to.... So, if he truely achieved the success, let us respect his triumph, and as Ashu started this, let us not be negative about it. Tara Sankaa Spad Kura Ke Cha Bhane, until this Kantipuronline story no one heard about this character. Try googling on 'Dr Rajendra Bhattarai" or any derivative of that and what you get is links only after 10/22/2003. Think about it, in this era you can even search on 'VillageVoice' and you could get links to his Sajha posting, how could we not get one trace of this guy's signature. I am sure if he denied Larry King's interview, there is something printed somewhere. Forbe's magazine has a list of Billionaires!!! I would think differently. I am thinking could it be possible that this is under his GRAND SCHEME of making his BLACK money to WHITE money? Remember the fame Soltee Casino had? A machine which turns BLACK money to WHITE money for Indian businessmen? Nepal and Nepalese are so gullible that he can get away with anything? I hope not, and I am not accusing anyone, I am just thinking it takes a lot to be Billionaire with all white money without anybody knowing about you or anything written about you in the media (printed form....) . Remember the Story of Sudha Sah? It was mare 1 million. Now, his story should be more than one thousand Sudha Sah story.... |
| DP | Posted
on 23-Oct-03 04:18 PM
Vincent AMIGO, We are not talking about whether RB has a billion.Any sane mind calculates things and tries to see if they add up.And in this story, they don't add up.We are not going after his personal life...we never did.As my friends said, we were just chatting here.I don't know why you have such a big headache. |
| VincentBodega | Posted
on 23-Oct-03 04:22 PM
yeah I guess you guys are right. I apologize Sorry --BV |
| sankaa | Posted
on 24-Oct-03 12:01 AM
;) now come on vincent amigo, you don't have to apologize. we're all friends bro.. tryin ' to time pass in here hehe.. have a good weekend bro... love, sankaa |
| KaleKrishna | Posted
on 24-Oct-03 04:24 AM
Hoina ho sathe haru, KTM ma hune sathe haru le ta kehi hata pare holan ne. Dr sahab sacchikai billion ko malik bhaye ta Sajhanagari ko honorory post ma rakhna Sanji lai anurodh garna launu parla. Yeso hamilai pane kehi 000K kamaune (chadai ra dherai) arthi budhi dinuhuntheyo ke. Je hos yes pale ko laxmi puja ma Sajha ko KTM team le Solte ko suite ma Deuse khelne plan banaye kasto huncha, Ashuji tapai nai age sarnu parla jasto cha. Happy canine day KK |
| tintin | Posted
on 24-Oct-03 06:00 AM
Hey. I use to know a guy who use to work in a startup company and he got some stock options. He was just a normal working guy not in any high post. When the company was floated in the market the price went sky high ..about200%. The first thing he did was to calculate how much he is worth. How he calculated was. Market value of the company divided by number of people working in the company. That way he evaluated himself to be worth some billions and telling Nepali pakhes in kathmandu that he is worth some billions now. Soon the word spread in ktm. When he went to ktm. he stayed in some hotel. How much it cost to stay in hotel 100 dollars per night?? All his friends..pakhes in Nepal thought he really must have been big shot by now. He use to keep loads of money in his wallet. May be exchanged 1000 us dollars ..80,000 in the wallet is too much money to carry around in Nepal. I don't know what happen to him when the internet bubble burst. I think his company stock is worth paper money now. I don't know if he even got a job. I am telling you this story because Nepalese have the attitude of showing of...and And people in KTM believe anything!! Specially those coming from Villages... |
| najar | Posted
on 27-Oct-03 08:29 AM
Good job guys. How about forming an SBI=sajha bureau of investigation? :) Intrigued by this thread i too asked few internal ppl affiliated with the ADB-nepal what they knew on this. This is what i got-- ---There was indeed a fax machine at the ADB-central office some 22 yrs ago, the only one fax machine in the whole bank system--that too at the GM's office probably to correspond w/ its supporting orgs such Asian devt bank, manila and others..and Rassendra possibly could've (ab)used that. --People who were serving at the bank also had heard of him and his fraudulent activites at that time. Due to his alliance with Dhirendra Shah the pressure was put on the then General Manager (he was one of the well-liked and popular GM, but he mightnot've been able to resist the darbariya pressure) of the bank to get approval for Mr. Bhattarai's loan using a third person's property as a 'dhito'. I also hear the GM was interrogated by the CIA few years afo as a follow up to the same case. Even at that time, Dr. Rassendra supposedly was living a lavish lifestyle, flying in and out of Singapore, BKK etc for his pleasure, shopping etc out of hte money he took from the bank. The jailing episode or the "turning point" as TKP states, is suspected as a result of that activity. ---------------------------------- On another note, while flipping through the channels, i happened to watch Bijay Kumar interview this amazing personality Mr. Shrawan Nepali, an MBA holder from a recognized US insitution, a founder of Aama Ghar--truly moving and inspiring story. I think he is the kind of guy we should be immensely proud of and celebrate. To corroborate his info i did a quick google search to find more info http://www.ama-foundation.org/ My hats off to Mr. Nepali. |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 27-Oct-03 01:09 PM
najar ji, thanks for the ama ghar info. it is truely inspiring. you may want to visit ama ghar during weekends and meet ama and shravan. actually i had created a thread in kurakani about kurakani but most people didn't seem to believe it. i was thinking of calling shravan dai after tihar when he gets back to CA. |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 27-Oct-03 01:10 PM
pls read about kurakani=about ama ghar |