Former Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel Named Defendant in Money Laundering Case; Company Directors Testify as Prosecution Witnesses

Kathmandu. In a case where former Finance Minister and CPN-UML leader Bishnu Poudel has been named as a defendant in a money laundering offense, company directors Chunnuprasad Poudel and Kamalkishor Malpani of Shriram Toba Company have been presented as government witnesses.

Based on the investigation report of the Department of Money Laundering, the Special Public Prosecutor's Office filed a case in the Special Court against CPN-UML leader Poudel with a claim of 20 crore 90 lakh rupees and against Deepak Bhatt with a claim of 47 crore 77 lakh 66 thousand 250 rupees, presenting Chunnuprasad and Kamalkishor as witnesses.

They revealed the 'factual details' to the investigating officer about how and under what circumstances 20 percent shares of Shriram Toba Industry were sold to Deepak Bhatt's company at a low price. The information they provided has formed the main basis for confirming the relationship and transactions between former Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel and Deepak Bhatt.

They have stated that the then Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel himself arranged a meeting with Deepak Bhatt at his residence in Sanepa and exerted pressure, saying, 'Deepak Bhatt is indispensable, he facilitates in all government bodies.' They have revealed that Poudel himself instructed to make Bhatt a partner to resolve issues with the Revenue Investigation Department and to arrange quotas for सुपारी import.

Sharma and Malpani have agreed to appear as prosecution witnesses and give their testimony while the case is ongoing in the court. They have pledged to cooperate in proving the allegations if a case is not filed against them.