Has Nepal’s former speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara been arrested on gold smuggling charges?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been arrested for alleged gold smuggling.
- The gold was concealed in electronic cigarettes.
- The incident occurred in December 2022.
- The investigation involves multiple parties, including Mahara's son.
- The case highlights issues of accountability in Nepalese politics.
Kathmandu, Oct 12 (NationPress) Nepal Police have detained Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, on allegations of smuggling 730 pieces of gold hidden within electronic cigarettes (vapes) back in December 2022.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), a specialized unit of the Nepal Police that tackles severe and organized crimes, announced that Mahara, aged 68 and a prominent figure in the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), was apprehended on Sunday for his suspected participation in a gold smuggling syndicate. The gold was discovered concealed within confiscated electronic cigarettes that had been seized at Tribhuvan International Airport nearly three years ago.
Authorities have initiated an investigation against Mahara under the Customs Act and regulations related to organized crime.
On December 25, 2022, a Chinese national, Li Hansong (passport no. EJ 6350030), arrived in Nepal aboard Fly Dubai flight FZ0587, carrying 730 electronic cigarettes packed in 73 boxes within two suitcases. Customs officials at the airport confiscated this shipment and stored it in the Customs Office warehouse at Tribhuvan International Airport.
During the investigation, it was uncovered that Rewant Khadka, a Deputy Section Officer at the customs office, allegedly conspired with others to misappropriate the seized goods from the government warehouse. The group then illicitly extracted and sold gold valued at NPR 85.52 million hidden within the vapes.
Authorities had previously interrogated Mahara regarding the case after it was discovered that he had been in contact with certain Chinese smugglers. Nevertheless, Mahara—who is regarded as a close associate of CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’—was not prosecuted at that time.
His son, Rahul Mahara, who was also linked to the Chinese smuggling network, faced prosecution in October 2023. The father-son pair allegedly coordinated with a Chinese national, Daojin Wang, who was later implicated in another 60 kg gold smuggling case, as per police reports.
Mahara, who has occupied various high-profile government roles—including Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Finance Minister—has long been regarded as a controversial political figure.
In September 2010, he stirred controversy when an audio recording emerged in which he allegedly solicited Rs 500 million from a Chinese individual for purchasing lawmakers. Despite the allegations, no case was initiated against him, allowing him to continue ascending within his party and governmental positions.
In October 2019, Mahara stepped down as Speaker following a staff member's accusation of rape. He denied the charge and was subsequently acquitted by the court.