Krishna Bahadur Mahara Brought to District Government Attorney’s Office

Former Speaker and Maoist Center Vice Chairman Krishna Bahadur Mahara, arrested in connection with gold smuggling, has been presented before the District Government Attorney’s Office in Kathmandu.

Mahara was escorted to the public prosecutor’s office on Ram Shah Path before being scheduled to appear in court to request an extension of his detention.

The arrest of Mahara occurred during a re-investigation of a case involving the smuggling of approximately 9 kg of gold through vape, as confirmed by police in Kapilvastu on Monday morning.

The recent developments follow the directive from the newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, who on Sunday instructed the police to take action based on a report from an inquiry commission regarding extensive gold smuggling, implicating Mahara.

The inquiry commission, chaired by former High Court chief judge Dilli Raj Acharya, submitted its findings to the Home Minister last week. These findings were subsequently forwarded to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The report allegedly highlighted Mahara’s involvement in the smuggling, alongside claims of the Central Investigation Bureau’s (CIB) purported efforts to shield Mahara and others from scrutiny.

A cabinet meeting held recently decided to implement the recommendations and findings of the inquiry commission diligently.

The inquiry commission was mandated to probe shortcomings in the police investigation concerning the smuggling of 61 kg of gold in 2023 and the concealment of 9 kg of gold within electronic cigarettes in 2022. Rahul Mahara, son of Krishna Mahara, is already in judicial custody following charges filed by the District Attorney’s Office last year in connection with the 9 kg gold smuggling incident.

Previously, Krishna Mahara was questioned by the police after being suspected of maintaining regular contact with Chinese smugglers. However, he had not been formally interrogated in relation to the case until now.

It is noteworthy that Mahara holds the position of vice-president within the CPN-MC, the political party led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.