Kathmandu: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has filed a corruption case at the Special Court in connection with gold smuggling concealed inside electronic cigarettes (vapes) through the customs office at Tribhuvan International Airport.

The Commission has named 28 individuals as defendants, including former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara.

Officials and Key Defendants

Among those charged are several customs officials, including:

-Arun Pokharel, then Chief Customs Administrator at the airport
-Chief Customs Officers Mukti Prasad Shrestha and Ambika Prasad Khanal
-Customs Officers Ramesh Kumar Khatiwada and Subendra Shrestha

Other officials named include Deputy Subba Suvarnaprabha KC, Bhuwanraj Ghimire, Umesh Prasad Koirala, Rewanta Khadka, and Madhusudan Pokharel.

Other Accused
The case also includes Mahara’s son Rahul (alias Resham Mahara), along with Nirmal Kumar BK, Lokendra Kumar Poudel, Dipesh Basnet, Gopal Subedi, Dinesh Basnet, Ved Prakash Agrawal, Ram Keshav Thapa Chhetri, and Amrit Karki.

Additionally, foreign nationals allegedly involved in the smuggling network have also been charged, including Chinese citizens Li Hang Song and Daojing Wang, Belgian citizen Dawa Tsering, and Indian citizen Saheb Rao, along with others such as Nima Gurung, Prerna Thapa, Lalita Thapa, and Deepika Thapa.

Financial Claim and Allegations
According to CIAA Assistant Spokesperson Ganesh Bahadur Adhikari, the Commission has sought recovery of approximately Rs 77.868 million.

The CIAA alleges that gold was smuggled through airport customs by misusing official positions, bypassing formal procedures, and engaging in financial manipulation. The gold was reportedly hidden inside vape devices to evade detection.

The case marks a significant step in Nepal’s ongoing efforts to combat high-level corruption and organized smuggling activities.