… after the court acquits her of all charges 

Dechen Dolkar 

Paro dzongkhag court this week acquitted the woman who boarded a plane at Paro international airport without a valid boarding pass in January.

She had entered the country from Jaigaon through Phuentsholing and ended up at the airport without any documentation.

The court passed the judgment on March 27.




On January 29th this year, the woman, believed to be an Indian citizen, entered Bhutan through Jaigaon without registering at Bhutan’s Immigration Office in Phuentsholing, violating the country’s immigration laws.

The woman had crossed the immigration gate in Phuentsholing without any permit by deceptive practices.

Throughout her journey from Phuentsholing to Thimphu and Thimphu to Paro, the woman used taxis and hotel services until she reached the airport.

She hired a taxi and travelled to Thimphu, but she only paid Nu 300 out of Nu 1000 for the taxi fare.




Later, she booked another taxi and travelled to Paro and stayed at Hotel Airport without paying for her lodging and meals.

On January 30, the defendant attempted to board a flight to Bangkok using an old boarding pass belonging to another person.

The Police have charged the defendant with illegal entry, deceptive practice, theft of service, and larceny.

According to the judgment, after reviewing the evidence and considering the law, the court found the defendant not guilty.

In accordance with section 108 of the Immigration Act, the court ordered her to be deported to her place of origin.




The judgment stated that although the prosecution was unable to prove in the court that the defendant was a citizen of India, she will still be deported to Jaigaon as she entered Bhutan through the entry point.

Paro police handed her over to the Department of Immigration as instructed by the court.

The procedure of deportation will be done by the department. However, immigration department officials did not answer the calls.