Financial crime cases turn on paper — ledgers, contracts, bank statements and audit trails. Under the National Penal Code, 2074, fraud (ठगी), forgery (किर्ते), criminal breach of trust and criminal misappropriation carry serious prison terms, and parallel proceedings often run under the Banking Offence Act or anti-money-laundering law at the same time.
We act for both sides of these disputes: individuals and companies accused of financial wrongdoing, and victims seeking to recover money through criminal complaint alongside civil remedies. Early forensic review of the documents usually decides these cases before trial begins.
The Nepalese laws that govern this area — what each one does in your matter.
Fraud against government or majority-state entities: up to 10 years and NPR 100,000 fine; fraud by false status: up to 5 years and NPR 50,000; other fraud: up to 7 years and NPR 70,000.
Up to 10 yrs + NPR 100,000 (state fraud)
Forgery (Sec. 276), use of forged documents (Sec. 277), making forgery instruments (Sec. 278) and fraudulent documents (Sec. 279–280), with compensation orders to victims.
Graded terms + court-ordered victim compensation
Covers account fraud, forged instruments, electronic abuse and loan fraud, with amount-graded imprisonment up to 5 years plus recovery of the claimed sum.
1–5 yrs graded + full recovery of claimed sum
Criminalises concealing or layering proceeds of crime, with investigation by the Department of Money Laundering Investigation.
Imprisonment + confiscation of laundered property
Preserves civil remedies for dishonoured instruments running parallel to any criminal case.
Document triage
We secure and independently review every ledger, contract and statement before the other side frames the narrative.
FIR strategy
For victims: a precisely drafted criminal complaint. For the accused: anticipatory engagement with the investigating officer.
Bail & asset protection
Urgent bail work plus steps to prevent attachment or freezing of accounts beyond what the law allows.
Trial on the paper trail
Cross-examination of complainants, auditors and bank witnesses; handwriting and forensic challenges where documents are disputed.
Recovery & compromise
Where appropriate, structured settlement or deed of compromise (मिलापत्र) to recover money without years of litigation.
Punishments at stake
Sentences scale with the amount and the victim: ordinary fraud up to 7 years, fraud on the state up to 10 years, plus fines and court-ordered compensation — with banking-offence imprisonment graded from 1 to 5 years by suit amount.
Someone took money promising returns and vanished. FIR or civil suit?
Often both. A criminal complaint for fraud/cheating creates pressure and a record, while a civil suit pursues recovery. We usually file the criminal complaint first and use it to anchor settlement talks.
Can a company be criminally liable?
Yes. Officers acting for a company can attract personal liability, and several statutes punish the chief executive where the organisation offends. Corporate内部 investigations must therefore be handled with counsel from day one.
What if the signature on the document is forged?
Forgery is a standalone offence under Chapter 25 of the Penal Code. We move for forensic examination of the disputed document and challenge its admissibility while pursuing the underlying fraud.
General legal information for public awareness — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an advocate →