CIAA Files Corruption Charges Against Former Speaker Mahara and Customs Officials in Vape Gold Smuggling Case
Kathmandu. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case exceeding 77.8 million rupees against former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara and high-ranking customs officials in connection with the gold smuggling case hidden inside electronic cigarettes (vapes).
This fact emerged following an investigation into complaints alleging that officials and staff at the Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office caused billions in revenue leakage by accepting massive bribes from gold smugglers. The commission filed the charge sheet at the Special Court today.
According to the CIAA investigation, on 2079 Poush 10, Chinese national Li Hang Song arrived in Nepal from Dubai via a 'Fly Dubai' flight (FZ 0587) carrying 730 vapes in 73 boxes inside two suitcases. Precious gold was hidden inside those vapes.
During customs inspection, the then X-ray screener (Non-Gazetted First Class Officer) noticed suspicious objects in the baggage and sent it to the Red Channel (RC). Although the X-ray machine could distinguish metal thickness and color, customs officer Subhendra Shrestha and other staff stationed at the RC area did not conduct a physical inspection despite knowing the gold was present. Instead, they decided to seize the goods with the intention of swapping them at a convenient time.
Furthermore, the seized goods were not kept in the designated warehouse but were kept in the office of Chief Customs Officer Mukti Prasad Shrestha for a long time. During that period, there were unusual meetings and telephone contacts with the gold smuggling group. More seriously, to destroy evidence, the passport of the Chinese national who brought the gold was returned to them.
The goods were sent to the auction branch only on 2079 Magh 29. After reaching there, the items were moved to a place not monitored by CCTV. In collusion with security guard Nirmal Kumar BK and Non-Gazetted First Class Officer Madhusudan Pokharel, one vape was taken out and tested at a gold shop in Koteshwor, which confirmed it contained 99.6 percent gold, and a gold chain was even made from it.
Political involvement in this case also appears equally alarming. Since 2079 Poush 10, former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara and his son Rahul (Resham Mahara) had started unusual activities in collaboration with Chinese nationals Dawa Chhiring, Nima Gurung, and others. Investigations revealed that they repeatedly met and contacted Customs Department Chief Administrator Arun Pokharel and others to influence them to release the goods from customs.
According to their plan, vapes containing gold were removed from the warehouse and replaced with vapes without gold. Then, to hide their crime, the items were shown as auctioned. Non-Gazetted First Class Officer of the auction branch, Rewanta Khadka, and businessman Dinesh Basnet sold the gold through Indian nationals at a Pashupati gold shop in Otu.
The illegal money obtained from the gold sale was deposited into the accounts of Dipika Thapa, Prerana Thapa, Lalita Thapa, and 'Dexter Travels and Tours Pvt. Ltd.' Additionally, property was managed by purchasing land in the names of Ramkeshav Thapa Chhetri and Amrit Karki.
After confirming the embezzlement of property worth 77,868,095 rupees and 19 paisa from a total of 8,480.51 grams of gold, the CIAA filed a case against all involved at the Special Court today.
This specific news has been automatically translated by AI. As a result, there may be some inaccuracies or language errors.
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