Man kidnapped in Kathmandu over PUBG UC payment dispute, rescued with hands and feet tied

Kathmandu, August 14, 2026 — A 26-year-old man was allegedly kidnapped from Kalanki in Kathmandu over a dispute involving PUBG UC and later rescued from Nagarjun Municipality-5, where police found him with his hands and feet tied.

Nabin Rai, originally from Janakpur, was allegedly abducted by a group of seven people on August 14. A team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office rescued him from Chhagdol after finding him allegedly being tortured, according to SSP Santosh Khadka.

Police have identified 32-year-old Manoj Budhathoki as the main accused. Budhathoki is originally from Likhu Tamakoshi Rural Municipality-3 of Ramechhap and currently lives in Kalanki.

According to investigators, Budhathoki had been communicating for about a week through social media with an Indian national known as Rohit. The two had not met in person.

Rohit had advertised on social media that he could load dollar cards. He allegedly told Budhathoki that he would provide dollars at a higher rate because they could be used for boosting. Rohit then allegedly asked Budhathoki to download the Trust Wallet application and transfer 18,000 UC Coin.

The dispute later became linked to PUBG UC, according to investigators. Police said Budhathoki was supposed to receive money for the UC and that the parties were discussing payment and conversion of the amount.

Rohit allegedly told Budhathoki that he would send a young man to help with loading the payment onto a dollar card. Nabin was subsequently sent to Bhetghat Cafe in Kalanki for the meeting.

Nabin works as a coffee maker at Royal Cafe and Thakali Kitchen in Thamel. Police said he had no knowledge of the financial dealings between Budhathoki and Rohit.

After Nabin arrived at Bhetghat Cafe, Budhathoki and the other accused allegedly abducted him and took him to Chhagdol in Nagarjun. Police said the group tied his hands and feet and tortured him while demanding Rs 1.8 million in connection with the disputed payment.