KATHMANDU: The Department of Money Laundering Investigation has launched a probe into burnt currency notes allegedly found at the homes of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and outgoing Energy Minister and Nepali Congress leader Deepak Khadka.
The investigation follows the circulation of videos on social media that claimed large amounts of cash were burned when the residences of Deuba and Khadka were set on fire on September 9 during the Gen-Z movement.
On Sunday, a team from the department visited both houses and collected samples of ashes and partially burnt notes from the sites.
Officials said the probe was initiated after forensic analysis of videos and photos allegedly showing burnt Nepali and foreign currency at the two locations. The investigation was launched 13 days after the incident, although police had already restricted access to the sites three days after the fires.
If the collected ashes and fragments are confirmed to be genuine currency notes, the Department is expected to launch a full-scale money laundering investigation.
However, Deuba’s secretariat has denied the claims, calling the reports of burnt cash at his residence “baseless and false.”
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