KATHMANDU: The District Public Prosecutor’s Office, Kathmandu has issued instructions to the police to commence an investigation into CPN-Maoist Center Vice-Chairman Krishna Bahadur Mahara and his son for their suspected involvement in a gold smuggling case.

Allegations have surfaced suggesting that the Vice-Chairman and his son were connected with a gold smuggling syndicate that discreetly transported the precious metal by concealing it within an electronic cigarette device called a ‘vape’.

Reportedly, on December 25, 2022, Mahara and his son Rahul were observed communicating with Daojin Wang, a Chinese national affiliated with the aforementioned group responsible for bringing gold from Dubai while discreetly stashing it within the vape.

The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police had submitted an investigative report wherein they identified Mahara and his son Rahul as the primary orchestrators behind this gold smuggling operation.

In light of Mahara and his son seemingly evading investigation despite being labeled as the central figures in this scheme, the District Public Prosecutor’s Office has instructed the police to reopen the case.

Achyutamani Neupane, Chief of the District Public Prosecutor’s Office, shared that the individuals designated by the Central Investigation Bureau as the ‘main planners’ in the vape case have not been subjected to an investigation.

Consequently, the Office has directed the Central Investigation Bureau to prepare an additional report, which should encompass statements from leader Mahara and his son.