Kathmandu, October 12 (IANS). Former Speaker of Nepal Krishna Bahadur Mahara was arrested on a charge of golden smuggling. Nepal police in December 2022 arrested former House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara in connection with the smuggling of 730 golden pieces hidden in electronic cigarettes (vapes). Krishna Bahadur Mahara, 68, a senior leader of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Center), was arrested on Sunday for his alleged involvement in an organized golden smuggling rack, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB), the special branch of the Nepal, said in a statement. This gold was hidden in electronic cigarettes that seized the Tribhuvan International Airport about three years ago. CIB is investigating serious and organized crimes. According to police, Mahara is being investigated under the Customs and Laws related to organized crime. On December 25, 2022, Li Hansong, a Chinese citizen, arrived in Dubai in Nepal with 730 electronic cigarettes packed in two bags in 73 boxes. Airport’s officials seized the consignment and held it at the Warehouse of the Customs office at Tribhuvan International Airport. During the investigation, it was revealed that Rewant Khadka, subdivision of the same customs office, allegedly worked with others to steal the consignment of goods seized from the government warehouse. Thereafter, the gang illegally withdrew and hidden gold worth 85.52 million Nepalese rupees in the vases. Police interviewed Mahara earlier in this case. It was revealed that he was in contact with some Chinese smugglers. However, Mahara was not prosecuted at the time. Mahara is considered chairman of the CPN (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. His son Rahul Mahara was tried in October 2023. Rahul Mahara was found to be in contact with the sugar smuggling gang. According to police, the father-son duo allegedly worked with a Chinese national, Daojin Wang, who was later found to be involved in another case of smuggling 60 kg of gold. Mahara has held several senior positions in government, including posts such as Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of Finance. Mahara has long been a controversial political figure. –Is Ash/DKP Share This Story Tags
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