JHAPA: Former King Gyanendra Shah arrived in Mechinagar, Jhapa, on Friday as part of his scheduled visit to unveil a portrait of Prithvi Narayan Shah at Birtamod on Saturday.
During his stay in Mechi Crown, a prominent five-star hotel in Itabhatta, Mechinagar, owned by Balram Sapkota, known as ‘Bale’, who has close ties to CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, Former King Shah chose this establishment for his accommodation.
Notably, Balram and his wife have faced a money laundering case initiated by the Money Laundering Department in 2077 BS regarding undisclosed wealth acquisition. Allegations include the possession of approximately one billion worth of assets, including 13 bighas of land in Kavre and Jhapa. Despite these allegations, Former King Shah opted to stay at Sapkota’s hotel.
Saturday is slated for the unveiling of a full-size statue of Prithvi Narayan Shah within the Eastern Empire College of Hotel Management’s courtyard in Birtamod. Though the event is ostensibly organized by the college, there’s an understanding that the driving force behind it is the right-wing Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), advocating for a Hindu kingdom and constitutional monarchy.
RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden, present in Jhapa for several days, has been actively involved in welcoming the former king during his visit.
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