After almost a month-long investigation, a high-level committee has found the constable couple from Pune, Dinesh and Tarakeshwari Rathod, guilty of faking their Mount Everest summit and has ordered the Department of Tourism (DoT) to cancel their summit certificates with immediate effect
After almost a month-long investigation, a high-level committee has found the constable couple from Pune, Dinesh and Tarakeshwari Rathod, guilty of faking their Mount Everest summit and has ordered the Department of Tourism (DoT) to cancel their summit certificates with immediate effect. It has also recommended banning them from visiting Nepal for mountaineering activities for at least 10 years, as per the existing Tourism Act and Mountaineering Regulation.
Dinesh and Tarkeshwari Rathod being felicitated by then police commissioner KK Pathak
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The three-member investigation panel, led by Under Secretary Tika Ram Pandey at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), submitted the final report to the ministry on Tuesday evening in which it concluded that the photographs of the couple that were submitted to the DoT as evidence of their Everest summit, which concluded on May 23, were indeed morphed and that their claim was false.
Speaking to mid-day from Nepal, Ghanshyam Upadhyay, Joint Secretary, MoCTCA said, “The investigation committee has submitted their report to the MoCTCA Secretary Prem Kumar Rai last evening and recommended cancelling the summit certificates of the Rathods that were issued to them on June 10". He added that the couple would be banned from visiting Nepal for mountaineering for at least 10 years. Upadhyay said, "The month-long investigation proved that the Rathods did not climb Everest on May 23 and they submitted morphed the photographs while applying for the summit certificates.” The photos submitted by the couple were found doctored after Satyarup Siddhanta, an Indian climber from Bengal and presently residing in Bengaluru, accused the couple of doctoring his photographs atop the Mt Everest on May 21.
The committee checked for the veracity of the couple’s claim by investigating and probing the expedition organising agency, Makalu Adventures, the liaison officer Ganesh Prasad Timsina and the two climbing sherpas – Furba from Sankhuwasabha and Fursemba from Solukhumbu.
Apart from the action recommended toward the Indian couple, the committee has also recommended action against Furba and Fursemba. It has recommended the de-listing of both the climbing sherpas from the official summiteers’ record at DoT and a ban on climbing mountains in Nepal for 10 years.
However, it seems to have remained silent on the expedition organising agency and the government appointed liaison officer Timisina. In fact, both the agency and the liaison officer are equally responsible for the faking of the Everest summit by the Indian couple. The liaison officer, along with the agency chief Mohan Lamsa verified the couple’s claims saying he was at the Everest Base Camp for 13 days to monitor their activities.
However, when asked by Upadhyaya if any legal action has been recommended against the expedition organising agency and Timsina, he claimed ignorance and said that DoT chairman has to do the needful of taking all action.
Speaking to mid-day from Nepal, Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal, director general of DoT, said, “I am aware that the investigation committee has submitted the report to the Ministry but, I have not seen the letter sent to me as yet as I am not in Kathmandu. I will take action against the Rathods as per the panel’s recommendations immediately after receiving the report from the ministry”.
Amidst the faking of the Everest summit by the Indian couple, Siddhanta is paying the price. The DoT and the expedition organising agency Seven Summits, one of the oldest and reputed agencies in Nepal that organized Siddhanta’s expedition to Everest has withheld his summit certificate until the investigation was in progress, as his photos were used and doctored by the Indian couple. Siddhanta climbed Everest on May 21 but never received his certificate despite submitting all proofs of summit to the agency and DoT officials.
Siddhanta who has paid Rs 23 lakh over two years to the agency for organising his expedition has been asking for his Everest certificate so as to be able to apply for sponsorship to complete his last and final Seven Summits climb — Mt Vinson in the Antarctica.
"Now that the Investigation committee has submitted its report to the ministry and has found the Rathods guilty, I am hoping I will get my certificate soon,” said Siddhanta, adding, “Due to the investigation and the authorities and agency not giving my certificate, I have lost crucial 1.5 months for my sponsorship hunt. It has been mentally taxing for me." Siddhanta requires R30 lakh for his climb that is scheduled in December 2016. If he is unable to bag sponsors this year, he will be able to climb only in December 2017.
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