Former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara Detained in 9-Kg Gold Smuggling Case

Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has taken CPN (Maoist Centre) Vice-Chair Krishna Bahadur Mahara into custody in connection with a three-year-old gold smuggling case involving 9 kilograms of gold hidden inside electronic vapes.

CIB spokesperson SSP Shiv Kumar Shrestha confirmed that Mahara was arrested from his Khumaltar residence in Lalitpur after he failed to respond to a summons. “We called him to appear at the office. When he did not, the CIB team went to his home and brought him into custody. He is now under investigation,” a family member said.

The 68-year-old former Speaker faces charges under the Customs Act, 2064, and provisions related to organized crime. The case involves Chinese citizen Li Hang Song, who attempted to smuggle 730 vapes containing gold through Tribhuvan International Airport on Poush 10, 2079 BS via Fly Dubai flight FZ0587.

The seized gold, valued at approximately Rs 85.5 million, was stored at the Customs Office. Investigations suggest that Deputy Subba Rewant Khadka and others may have organized a network to sell the gold illicitly.

Authorities stated that the CIB, in coordination with the Customs Department, is continuing its probe to determine the extent of Mahara’s involvement and identify all participants in the smuggling operation.