Former speaker of the House of Representatives, Krishna Bahadur Mahara. (File Photo)
Former speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) and CPN (Maoist Center) leader, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, has been arrested. He was apprehended by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police from Kathmandu.
Just a few days ago, he had given a statement to the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) regarding the gold smuggling case involving vapes (e-cigarettes). The CIB had previously withheld prosecution on this case.
Following the formation of the interim government, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal had stated that cases previously stalled due to political pressure would see a 'breakthrough.'
Mahara is linked to the case where a Chinese national, Li Hansong, illegally brought 730 electronic cigarettes (vapes) in 73 boxes inside two suitcases through Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on a Fly Dubai flight on December 25, 2022. He has been arrested on the charge of customs fraud and organized crime, according to CIB.
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