Deuba Couple Writes to Anti-Money Laundering Department Seeking Cooperation for Nepal Return

Kathmandu. Former Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba couple has corresponded to facilitate their return to Nepal to cooperate with the investigation into the complaint filed with the Anti-Money Laundering Investigation Department. The former Prime Minister Deuba and former Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba have requested the Anti-Money Laundering Department via email and courier not to create a situation that would make it difficult for them to enter Nepal. Deuba's personal secretary Bhanu Deuba admitted that the Deuba couple had submitted an application to the Anti-Money Laundering Investigation Department. 'Yes, they (Deuba couple) have submitted an application to the Anti-Money Laundering Investigation Department,' Bhanu told Ratopati. 'They have requested to facilitate their return to Nepal.' He informed that the Deuba couple would arrive in Nepal by the end of Shrawan. 'They will arrive in Nepal by the end of Shrawan,' Bhanu said. 'Due to ongoing treatment, it was not possible to come sooner. They have to go to the hospital for weekly follow-ups for 4 weeks. After that, they will complete the treatment process and arrive in Nepal by the end of Shrawan.' The Deuba couple, who were beaten to a near-death state at their residence in Budhanilkantha on Bhadra 24 during the Gen Z movement, had gone to Singapore separately from Nepal for treatment. Deuba flew to Singapore from Nepal on Fagun 13, while his wife Dr. Arzu had gone to India from Nepal some time before that. Dr. Arzu reached Singapore from India, received treatment, and the couple then departed for Hong Kong on Chaitra 7 for further treatment. Before that, the Deuba couple had gone to Singapore on Kartik 10 and returned to Nepal after 18 days. During their stay abroad for treatment, the department had obtained an arrest warrant from the Kathmandu District Court for money laundering investigation. The department had obtained an arrest warrant against them from the Kathmandu District Court on Chaitra 24 for investigation into allegations related to money laundering. However, they had filed a writ in the Supreme Court arguing that the Special Court was designated to hear money laundering cases, and the department had exceeded its jurisdiction by obtaining an arrest warrant from the District Court. Hearing the writ, a bench of Supreme Court Justices Mahesh Sharma Poudel and Nityanand Pandey issued an interim order on Jestha 11, stating that the arrest warrant was issued by the Kathmandu District Court instead of the Special Court, and ordered not to arrest them based on that warrant. While filing that writ in the Supreme Court, the Deuba couple had stated that they were ready to cooperate with the Anti-Money Laundering Department and had requested the writ to be dismissed, arguing that the department had exceeded its jurisdiction. The department's administration informed that a letter signed by both Sher Bahadur Deuba and Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba arrived at the department through two mediums. A department official informed Ratopati that separate letters sent by the Deuba couple via email and courier had arrived at the department. According to that official, they have stated that they are ready to cooperate with the ongoing investigation into money laundering. The official stated that they have requested not to create a narrative that they have fled the country and are not appearing for investigation, and not to create a situation that would make it difficult for them to enter Nepal, as they are undergoing treatment and not fleeing the country. 'While we are ready to cooperate with the investigation in good faith, do not create a situation that makes it difficult for us to enter Nepal by issuing arrest warrants against us and creating a narrative that we have fled the country and are not appearing for investigation,' the letter stated. Sources close to Deuba informed that a copy of that application has also been sent to the Special Court. At the request of the Anti-Money Laundering Investigation Department, the Nepal Police Headquarters, Naxal, had corresponded with Interpol to issue a red corner notice against the Deuba couple. After Interpol received the police letter, they asked, 'What is their status?' After the police sent the response, Interpol has not asked for any further information. Interpol has not issued a red corner notice against them. Department officials say that since the arrest warrant has been quashed and no red corner notice has been issued, there is no basis for the department to arrest the Deuba couple upon their return. However, if the Special Court, which hears money laundering cases, grants permission for arrest, the department can arrest them.