KATHMANDU, March 22: The recording of a statement from Krishna Bahadur Mahara, vice chairman of CPN (Maoist Centre) was completed on Thursday. Mahara is under police custody for investigation related to the gold smuggling scam.

The chief of the District Attorney General’s Office Sandesh Shrestha shared that the process of recording statements, which started on Wednesday, has been completed on Thursday.

After completion of recording of the statement, he was readmitted to the Norvic hospital in the capital, according to the Central Investigation Bureau of the Nepal Police. Due to poor health, the court ordered him to be kept in the hospital. The former Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) was arrested on March 18 from Kapilvastu district, and is under judicial custody for four days.

CIB Spokesperson Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati said that further necessary procedures will be initiated against him Friday. Mahara was arrested by police for investigation as his name was linked to Chinese nationals involved in the smuggling of 61 kg of gold that was hidden in brake shoes of scooter on July 18 last year and 9 kg of gold that was brought concealed in an electronic cigarette (vape) in December 2023.

Prior to this also, the CIB had recorded his statement but did not complete the due process. In the same case, Mahara's son Rahul is currently in custody pending trial. 

 
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