Kathmandu: In a shocking turn of events, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) has uncovered a gold smuggling operation involving Krishna Bahadur Mahara, a prominent leader from the CPN Maoist Center, and his son, Rahul Mahara. The duo allegedly had connections with Chinese nationals, including a businessman named Wang, who are believed to be the masterminds behind the illicit gold trade.

The investigation came to light when customs officials seized a vape containing a large quantity of smuggled gold from a Chinese passenger named Li Hansong on December 25, 2022, after he arrived in Nepal on a Fly Dubai flight. The vape, which had been illegally used for commercial purposes, was initially confiscated, but it was later discovered that it held a substantial amount of gold.

It appears that corrupt customs officials, including Nirmal BK, Dinesh Basnet, and Customs Deputy Subba Rewant Khadka, were involved in the theft of the gold from the vape. The group reportedly managed to extract around 9 kg of gold, which they then sold to other criminal organizations involved in gold smuggling at a price of Rs 80,000 per tola.

During the investigation, it was revealed that leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara's son, Rahul, had been in regular contact with the Chief Customs Officer, Mukti Prasad Shrestha, of the Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office. Rahul allegedly influenced the officer to proceed with the auction process for the smuggled gold, raising suspicions about his involvement in the operation.

Further evidence came to light when customs officials discovered 730 electric cigarettes, declared illegal, in two suitcases brought by Chinese nationals on December 25. These cigarettes were confiscated and stored in the customs warehouse, as per standard procedure for such items. However, it was discovered that the conniving Customs Department personnel, including Nasu Revant Khadka and Custom Agent Dinesh Basnet, leaked the gold from the confiscated cigarettes.

The CIB's investigation led to the arrest of several individuals connected to the smuggling ring. Notable arrests include Naveen Subba Khadka, who was assigned to the airport's Case Branch godown, Bedprakash Agarwal from India, Saheb Rao Pandurang Marag, Amrit Karki, Nirmal Kumar Bik, Dipesh Basnet, and Gopal Subedi.

As the case unfolds, it is becoming apparent that Krishna Bahadur Mahara and his son Rahul Mahara are deeply entwined in the gold smuggling racket, working closely with Chinese businessman Wang and corrupt customs officials to facilitate the illegal trade. 

In addition to their involvement in the gold smuggling ring, Krishna Bahadur Mahara has faced previous allegations of rape and was reportedly involved in a concerning phone call soliciting funds from a Chinese individual to bribe members of parliament.

The CIB's investigation report, along with crucial mobile phone records, has been submitted to the Public Prosecutor's Office for further legal action. Authorities are continuing their efforts to recover the smuggled gold and hold all those involved accountable for their actions. The implications of this far-reaching smuggling operation have sent shockwaves through Nepal's law enforcement and political circles, demanding a thorough and comprehensive investigation.