Gold Smuggling Case: Krishna Bahadur Mahara to be released without bail
Mahara's apprehension took place in Bhairahawa following recommendations from the Gold Smuggling Probe Commission for legal action against him.
KATHMANDU: Krishna Bahadur Mahara, former Speaker and Vice Chairman of CPN (Maoist Centre), is poised to be released without bail under the condition of cooperating with the Crime Investigation Bureau (CIB) as required.
Mahara, who was arrested from Kapilvastu last Monday in the case of gold smuggling in vape, was ordered by the District Court of Kathmandu to be remained in custody for 4 days for investigation.
Initially granted a four-day remand by the Kathmandu District Court to aid further investigation, Mahara’s medical condition prompted authorities to allow him to remain hospitalized, resulting in his admission to Norvic Hospital.
Throughout his detention, Mahara maintained his innocence, reaffirming his lack of involvement in the gold smuggling case during his statement to the public prosecutor’s office.
The Crime Investigation Bureau and the public prosecutor’s office have concluded the process of recording Mahara’s statement regarding his alleged connection to the gold smuggling case.
According to a previous CIB report, Mahara was implicated in the gold smuggling case linked to vape concealment. Additionally, a high-level commission tasked with investigating the gold case also proposed action against him.
On Poush 10, 2079 (25 Dec, 2022), customs confiscated 730 electronic cigarettes and vapes imported by Chinese citizen Li Hansong from Fly Dubai along with gold.
The investigation revealed that Li Hansong had communicated with Krishna Bahadur Mahara via phone on 11 occasions in connection with the same case.
