KATHMANDU: As many as 17 American citizens, who came under investigation by the Nepal’s Immigration Department for allegedly misusing their tourist visas, have returned to the United States before any action could be taken against them.

The group, along with one Indian citizen, was arrested on charges of preaching religion under the guise of participating in volunteering while entering Nepal on tourist visas.

They were being investigated by the Immigration Department but managed to return home before the investigation was concluded.

According to sources at the Airport Immigration Office, all those under investigation flew back on a Qatar Airways flight on Friday.

The Immigration Department had been preparing to deport them and impose a ban on their re-entry to Nepal for a certain period.

However, the group returned to their home country before these measures could be enforced.

The individuals were initially arrested for preaching religion while participating in a volunteering project to build a building for the Prerna Kalyankari Samaj at Deurali Saugat Chowk, Dharan Sub-metropolitan City-5, Sunsari.

After questioning by the authorities, they were released with a warning, and the documents recovered from them were sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for further investigation.

The Ministry then forwarded the case to the Immigration Department for further action.

The individuals involved in the investigation include American citizens Ryan Matthew Carter, Silas Daniel Fox, Russell Thomas Howells, Rose Brian Howells, Mark Alan Summers, Matthew Brian Kennedy, Patrick Irvin Summers, Duane Michael Godling, Benjamin Ward Kaufman, Brian Ward Kaufman, Dylan Jackson Bonzo, Kathleen Sue Moore, Dawson Andrew Carter, James Nathan Austin, William Raymond Viviano Jr., Kenneth David Gray, and James Ray Murphy.