Kathmandu — What began as a night of music, alcohol, and flirtation for a group of Indian tourists in Kathmandu ended in humiliation, blackmail, and an inflated bill that turned their trip into a nightmare. The men, who had arrived from Bihar and West Bengal, said they were cheated out of nearly 120,000 Nepali rupees after being lured into a glamorous Dohori restaurant in Koteshwor — a type of folk-music bar now infamous for mixing entertainment with exploitation.

According to eyewitness accounts verified by Nepal Aaja, the group entered the venue around 7 a.m. after a late-night outing, drawn by the promise of Nepali music and local hospitality. Inside, well-dressed young women approached their table, asking softly if they could sit with them. They smiled, ordered drinks, and started talking in a friendly and flirtatious way. The tourists said they thought it was harmless — just part of Nepali culture and the lively Dohori scene.

But as the hours passed, the evening turned expensive and dangerous. By 11 a.m., the group was intoxicated, the women had disappeared, and the tourists requested the bill. They were stunned to see a total of more than Rs 120,000 — despite having personally ordered only around Rs 18,000 worth of food and drinks. When they protested, the restaurant staff reportedly told them that the entire table’s consumption, including what the girls had ordered, was their responsibility.

When the men refused to pay, several aggressive individuals appeared from inside the restaurant. They surrounded the group, threatened them, and warned that the entire incident — including the videos showing them drinking and being touched by the girls — was captured on CCTV. The tourists, fearing violence and public embarrassment, especially since they were foreign nationals, agreed to settle. They paid Rs 55,000 Indian rupees, equivalent to about Rs 88,000 Nepali rupees, and were allowed to leave.

The tourists left Nepal the following day, shaken and disappointed. They said their first day in Kathmandu had become their last. “We came for fun, but it turned into fear. We were terrorized and humiliated,” one said.

Police sources confirmed that such scams have become increasingly common in Dohori and dance restaurants across Kathmandu, particularly in Koteshwor, Thamel, Sundhara, and along the Ring Road corridor, where women working under management direction target foreign visitors. “We receive complaints, especially from Indian and Bangladeshi nationals, about inflated bills, threats, and coercion,” said a senior officer at the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range. “However, most victims leave the country before a formal complaint is filed, which makes prosecution difficult.”

Officials acknowledge that these businesses operate in a grey legal zone. Registered as cultural and hospitality venues, many Dohori restaurants also function as semi-nightclubs, where alcohol sales are unregulated and entertainment easily crosses into solicitation. One DSP of the Metropolitan Police said, “If such incidents occur, victims should immediately contact nearby police stations. We take such matters seriously and will investigate any case of fraud, coercion, or exploitation.”

Former restaurant staff and insiders say the system is well organized. “These girls are not independent. They are trained to charm, drink with guests, and encourage more spending. The management keeps most of the profit,” said a former employee who worked in Koteshwor’s nightlife for three years.

Social workers link the problem to deeper social and economic roots. “Most of these women are from poor or rural backgrounds and are pressured to earn fast money,” said rights activist and researcher Rukamanee Maharjan. “It’s a system that exploits both — the women who are manipulated into this work and the visitors who become easy targets.”

Tourism entrepreneurs warn that the growing number of such scams is damaging Nepal’s reputation as a hospitable and safe destination. “One cheating incident can ruin the image of an entire industry,” said Thamel-based tourism promoter. “The authorities must regulate nightlife more responsibly — not to moralize it, but to make it transparent.”

When contacted by Nepal Aaja, a restaurant owner in Koteshwor denied the allegations, saying, “All our prices are clearly listed. Some guests drink excessively and later refuse to pay. We run a legal business.”

The Koteshwor incident reflects a disturbing pattern across Kathmandu’s entertainment sector, where charm and coercion often blur into one another. These venues thrive on glamor, yet operate within a vacuum of accountability. For Nepal’s tourism industry, which relies on good experiences and returning visitors, such incidents highlight an uncomfortable reality — behind the music, the smiles, and the drinks lies a machinery of exploitation that neither side openly acknowledges.

As the sun rises over Kathmandu, the echoes of that night remain a warning: Nepal’s nightlife may glitter with song and laughter, but behind the lights, a darker economy quietly plays its tune.

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