Gold smuggling case: Krishna Bahadur Mahara released within 4 days of arrest

KATHMANDU: Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the former Speaker and Vice Chair of CPN (Maoist Centre), has been released without bail, under the condition that he must be available for questioning by the Crime Investigation Bureau (CIB) as required.

Mahara was released on the condition that he be present when needed after a team of CIB and District Public Prosecutors Office, Kathmandu, completed recording his statement today.

Spokesperson of the Central Investigation Bureau of the Nepal Police and Superintendent of Police, Hobindra Bogati, said Mahara was released on guarantee of his son, Nirmal Mahara.

Mahara was previously apprehended in Bhairahawa following recommendations from the Gold Smuggling Probe Commission to pursue legal actions against him.

Initially, the Kathmandu District Court granted Mahara a four-day detention to aid with additional investigations.

However, as to Mahara’s medical condition, the CIB was asked to keep him hospitalized, culminating in his admittance to Norvic Hospital.

Since his detention, Mahara has given a statement to the public prosecutor’s office, claiming innocence in the gold smuggling claims.

Following the completion of statements recorded by both the CIB and the public prosecutor’s office indicating Mahara’s involvement in the gold smuggling case, it was agreed to release him.

According to a previous CIB report, Mahara was implicated in the gold smuggling case linked to vape concealment.

A commission formed under the leadership of former justice Dilli Raj Acharya to probe into gold smuggling had recommended filing case against Mahara. Based on the recommendation, CIB had arrested 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.