MAKAWANPUR: In a significant development, a section officer has been apprehended for allegedly granting Nepali citizenship to two Chinese nationals involved in a gold smuggling case.

Ram Chandra Aryal, a sixth-level officer employed at Bagmati Province Assembly Secretariat, was detained in Hetauda on Wednesday.

Aryal, formerly stationed at the Transport Management Office in Thulo Bharyang, Kathmandu, was transferred to the Bagmati Province Assembly Secretariat.

According to Sitaram Rijal, Chief of District Police Office, Makawanpur, Aryal’s arrest was made at the behest of the District Police Office, Kavre, and he has been subsequently transferred to Kavre for further proceedings.

Aryal stands accused of facilitating the issuance of Nepali citizenship to the Chinese nationals while serving as the Nayab Subba at the District Administration Office, Kavre.

Further investigations by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police have revealed that officials at the Kavre District Administration Office unlawfully granted Nepali citizenship to the individuals on the basis of descent.

The citizenships were issued in January 2018 to Belgian citizen Dawa Tshiring of Tibetan origin and Chinese national Dawa Jin Wang. Aryal allegedly entered these names into the computer system, facilitating the fraudulent issuance of citizenship.

Moreover, investigations are ongoing into the involvement of another government official, Jhapendra Raj Kharel, in the citizenship issuance process, as per the police statement.