Nepal bans couple from climbing for 10 years after 'fake' Everest climb

'The ban should serve as a warning for mountaineers to follow ethics'

The Indian couple’s claims to have reached the summit of Everest have been rejected by the Nepalese government (Facebook)

An Indian couple have been banned from climbing any mountain in Nepal for 10 years after officials said the pair ‘faked’ an Everest climb.

A government investigation concluded the two police constables doctored images of themselves at the summit of the world’s highest mountain.

Dinesh and Tarakeshwari Rathod – from Pune in the state of Maharastra – claimed they reached the peak in May. The ascent was initially certified by the Nepalese tourism department, but that decision was reversed following an analysis of the photos used to make that claim.

Tourism Department official Gyanendra Shrestha said the government investigation confirmed complaints by other climbers that the Indian couple had doctored photographs to show themselves at the top of the mountain.

“We have revoked their climbing certificate,” Mr Shrestha told Reuters. “They will not be allowed to do any climbing activity in Nepal for 10 years.”

Tourism officials said that analysis of photos submitted by the couple showed they had superimposed their faces and the Indian flag on pictures taken by another climber who had climbed Everest a few days earlier than they claimed to have done so.

Department chief Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal told AFP: “Despite several attempts to get clarifications from them, they did not co-operate with us during the investigation. The two Sherpas that assisted them are also absconding.

“The ban should serve as a warning for mountaineers to follow ethics.”

One Indian climber, Satyarup Sidhantha from Bangalore has claimed that that one of his photographs was manipulated by the husband and wife team.

Climber Satyarup Sidhantha holds a photo of him at the summit of Everest, alongside what he claims is the altered version (AP)

The Rathods held a press conference on 5 June, having supposedly reached the summit. At that conference Dinesh Rathod said: “We were committed that we would not give birth to a child until we climb Everest,“ before adding, ”With pride now, we want to become parents.“

The couple have always maintained that they did reach the summit, as have the guides who climbed with them

Back in June, the chief of Kathmandu-based Makalu Adventure, which organised the ascent, told the BBC he had “no doubt” the couple had scaled the world's highest peak.

“They were taken to the summit by sherpas who worked for my company for several years and they reached the summit on 23 May,” Mohan Lamsal said.

This year 454 people scaled Everest during the March to May climbing season, following two years of poor weather – leading to a number of deaths – and the Nepal earthquake in 2015, which killed more than 1,100 people.