At the press meet, the Rathods claimed that they had scaled the world’s highest peak on 23 May and claimed to have become the first Indian couple to do so.
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They had claimed they scaled the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) peak in May and the government issued them climbing certificates based on the photographs.
Pune: Months after a Pune-based couple made “fake” claims of successfully scaling Mount Everest, Nepal government imposed a 10-year ban on them. However, several mountaineers complained against the couple and said that they faked their achievement by circulating digitally altered photos of the climb.
“If you see the individual photos of Dinesh, he is wearing a red and black down jacket at the summit and in the couple photo at the top, both are wearing orange down jacket and yellow and black shoes”. “Needless to say, this affair has been most unfortunate and has blemished the image of the Pune police force, bringing dishonour in its wake”, said Pune Police Commissioner Rashmi Shukla, adding that their disappearance only confirmed their guilt.
Nepal’s tourism department initially certified their ascent but has now rescinded that decision after conducting an investigation. “We have imposed a 10-year ban against them from climbing any mountain in Nepal”, tourism department chief Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal told Agence France-Presse. “The two Sherpas that assisted them are also absconding”, Dhakal said.
Dinesh Rathod and his wife Tarakeshwari on Mount Everest in a photo claimed to be faked.
‘The couple’s Himalayan suit colours and even their boots seem to have been changed at the summit, ‘ she said.
The officers are supposed to accompany climbers who reach the summit to the camps and then await their return, deciding whether to recommend them for a verification certificate.
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About 450 people scaled Everest during the March to May climbing season this year, after two consecutive years of disasters on the mountain during which nearly all attempts were abandoned.
