Nepal’s former Speaker arrested for alleged involvement in gold smuggling case
The Hindu
Former Nepal Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara arrested in Kathmandu for alleged involvement in major gold smuggling case.
Former Speaker of Nepal’s House of Representatives and a senior member of the ruling party Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been arrested and brought to Kathmandu for investigation into his alleged involvement in a major gold smuggling case, a media report said on Monday.
Mr. Mahara, vice-president of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’s ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), was arrested from Pakadi of Kapilvastu district earlier in the day and brought to the capital from the Bhairahawa airport, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.
Upon arrival in the capital, the 65-year-old was swiftly taken to the Central Investigation Bureau of the Nepal Police in Lazimpat, The Himalayan Times newspaper reported.
CIB spokesperson Hobindra Bogati said a case against the former Speaker will be prepared and forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office. Mr. Mahara will be produced in the court to extend his remand, he added.
Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane on March 17 had ordered police to implement a report of the inquiry commission on large-scale gold smuggling that pointed to Mr. Mahara’s “involvement” in the case, the report said.
The commission, headed by a former High Court chief judge that submitted its report on March 14, accused the CIB of making deliberate efforts not to investigate Mr. Mahara and former Nepal Police chief and Communist Part of Nepal (UML) leader Sarbendra Khanal in the gold scam.
After receiving the report, Home Minister Lamichhane submitted it to Prime Minister Prachanda following which the Cabinet on Friday decided to implement the recommendations of the inquiry commission.
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