KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu District Court has acquitted seven defendants in the high-profile fake Bhutanese refugee scam case, citing a lack of sufficient evidence.

According to the court’s verdict, those given a clean chit include Sandip Rayamajhi, Pratik Thapa, Ram Sharan K.C., Tanka Kumar Gurung, Laxmi Maharjan, Keshav Tuladhar, and Ashish Budhathoki.

Among the acquitted individuals, Sandip Rayamajhi is the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, while Pratik Thapa is the son of former Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa (Badal).