KATHMANDU , July 27: Yogesh Bhattarai, the secretary of the main opposition party CPN-UML, has said that Rahul Mahara, the son of the vice-chairman of the Maoist Center, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, had called 90 times to allegedly pressure the customs officials to release the 9 kg of gold smuggled into the country in 'e-cigarettes'.

"His (Rahul's) name comes from the employee of the customs department himself. It has been revealed that he called 90 times. Why is Mahara’s son concerned about the gold; he is not a gold trader?” UML Secretary Bhattarai said in parliament on Wednesday, "So is it not understood that the top leadership of the Maoist Center is involved in the recent smuggling of gold?"

UML has been given an additional basis to target Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha and the leadership of the Maoist Center in the case of the seizure of 9 kg of gold found inside 'e-cigarettes' about five months ago. The names of Krishna Bahadur Mahara and his son Rahul have been linked to it. It has been revealed that Rahul repeatedly called the customs department staff and asked them to release the e-cigarettes or put them up for auction. UML Secretary Bhattarai has targeted the Maoists by raising this issue.

Bhattarai said, "The home administration is in the hands of the home minister. When gold is being smuggled from such a sensitive place like the airport, how can you believe that neither the security system nor the customs officials know about it?'

According to a close source, those who want to put a 'brake' on the steps taken by Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha in investigating corruption cases are now criticizing him. “He is moving forward with determination to maintain good governance. He is saying that he will not leave the culprit involved in corruption-related crimes even if he is found to be a Maoist leader involved in corruption-related crimes," said a source close to Shrestha, "The powers that be, frightened by this, are now going against him."

 
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