Kathmandu: The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a case against 28 individuals, including former Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Krishna Bahadur Mahara, at the Special Court on charges related to gold smuggling.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the CIAA has accused Mahara and other officials of smuggling gold concealed inside electric cigarettes, known as Vape, through the Tribhuvan International Customs Office. The investigation revealed a network involving several customs officials and international operatives.
Among those charged are former Chief Customs Administrator of Tribhuvan International Customs Office Arun Pokharel, Chief Customs Officers Mukti Prasad Shrestha and Ambika Prasad Khanal, as well as Customs Officers Ramesh Kumar Khatiwada and Subendra Shrestha. Additional individuals implicated include Naya Subba Subarna Prava KC, Bhuwan Raj Ghimire, Umesh Prasad Koirala, Rewanta Khadka, and Madhu Sudan Pokhrel.
Others facing charges include Resham Mahara ‘Rahul’, Nirmal Kumar BK, two Chinese nationals, a Belgian citizen, and an Indian national. CIAA’s Assistant Spokesperson Ganesh Bahadur Adhikari indicated that the agency is seeking Rs 77.86 million from each accused individual.