Gold Smuggling Scandal Widens: Former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun and Family Under Police Probe

The ongoing gold smuggling investigation has taken a new turn, with police expanding their probe to include former Vice President and Maoist Centre Vice-Chair Nanda Bahadur Pun (Pasang) and his family members.

According to police sources, Pun and his sons have been linked to a series of smuggling operations that used electronic cigarettes (vapes) and other means to transport gold illegally into Nepal. The move comes shortly after the arrest of former Speaker and Maoist Centre leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who faces similar allegations of working with a Chinese organized group to smuggle gold.

Pun’s name surfaced after investigators found connections between his family and those already under scrutiny. His elder son, Jitendra Pun, allegedly misused his father’s influence to obtain false documents identifying him as a resident of Humla, enabling him to cross into Takalakot, China, where he reportedly accepted four kilograms of gold from Chinese contacts. The deal later collapsed after unpaid dues and interest led to its exposure. Jitendra, who once served as his father’s private secretary, is currently believed to be in the United States.

Pun’s younger son, Dipesh Pun, is also accused in several major criminal cases, including gold smuggling, cooperative fraud, and the fake Bhutanese refugee scandal and is currently on the run, reportedly hiding in India.

Dipesh’s name has appeared in two separate smuggling incidents: about 9 kilograms of gold hidden inside vapes in 2079 BS, and 61 kilograms of gold concealed in brake shoes from Hong Kong in 2080 BS. A government-formed commission identified his involvement and advised further investigation.

Police records show Dipesh was earlier arrested in a cooperative fraud case but was released on bail.

Other individuals linked to Pun’s circle have also been implicated. Jeevan Kumar Gurung, who served as a foreign affairs advisor in Pun’s secretariat, was arrested in 2080 BS and later freed on bail, while Amala Roka, a relative of Pun and operator of Hotel Vienna in Thamel, was detained and released on Rs 200,000 bail last Asar.

With growing evidence pointing toward family involvement and suspected ties to Chinese networks, police have now formally begun investigating the former Vice President himself.