Former speaker and Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been arrested on charges of smuggling gold in collaboration with Chinese organized gangs. In the case of gold smuggling, investigation has also started against the former Vice President and Maoist leader Nanda Bahadur Pun. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the police arrested Mahara on Tuesday in a smuggling case three years ago.

According to CIB spokesperson SSP Shiv Kumar Shrestha, an investigation has been launched against Mahara for offenses related to the Customs Act and organized crime. 

Ex-Speaker Mahara and his son Rahul were actively involved in getting rid of 9 kg of gold worth about 85.55 million 28 thousand brought from Dubai hidden in electronic cigarettes (Vape) on 10th December 2079 by Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office.

At that time, 730 vapes brought in 73 boxes were seized by airport customs after they were found to be suspicious. Li Hasong, the porter who brought the vape, fled immediately. Later, Chinese smuggler Dawajin Wang took the help of former Speaker Mahara and his son Rahul to release the gold. 

It was revealed that Mahara Babuchhora made phone calls 256 times while trying to get rid of the gold. The secret of gold smuggling was revealed only after the vape was stolen from the customs warehouse. In that case, a case was initially filed against the customs officials and agents, and later on 24 October 2080, a supplementary case was taken to the court against Rahul Mahara. Mere investigation could be done against the former speaker Mahara while he admitted that he contacted the airport staff on the phone to release the vape. It was also revealed that the relationship of Chinese gold smugglers with Mahara's family dates back to 2 decades ago. 

Former speaker Mahara was arrested from Kapilvastu on 5 March 2080 and brought to Kathmandu for investigation. But the District Public Prosecutor's Office, Kathmandu, citing "health reasons", released Mahara on "attendance". Then the matter was taken up in the CIB. The government was also not interested in the investigation. After the criticism that he was released before the investigation against Mahara was completed, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane defended himself by saying that "the state also has compassion". After a year and a half, the CIB has re-arrested former Speaker Mahara while investigating gold smuggling. 

Maoist leader Pun, who has been vice president twice, and his two sons Jitendra and Dipesh, and Jeevan Gurung, who was appointed as 'foreign affairs expert' while he was vice president, have also been investigated by CIB. Kantipur brought out the news on 27 February 2080 that Jitendra reached the Chinese land of Taklakot through Humla and found 4 kilos of gold. 

Kantipur brought out the news on 27 February 2080 with video and photos of Jeetendra going to China and finding 4 kg of gold. On 19 October 2076 (6 October 2019), Jitendra had agreed to buy four kilos of gold on loan from China's Shenzhen Prosper Mankak Company. According to the prices at that time, he had taken a one-year term to pay 2.5 million rupees, the daily interest of which was fixed at 20,000 and 71 lakhs for the year. The price of the gold bought on loan was fixed at 3.5 million including principal and interest. 

Jitendra misused his father's position to bring in gold through smuggling and made himself a Humla resident and made an identity card to cross the border. Jitendra, whose permanent home is Rangsi in Rolpa, obtained such an identity card from the Ministry of Home Affairs. In order to get the smuggled gold on loan, Jitendra submitted documents to the Chinese gang showing that he was the vice president's son and the vice president's personal secretary. Later, after the gold payment was not given, the fact that the Chinese had a conversation with the then Vice President Pun was also revealed. There was no investigation on the former president. 

The Maoist leader was again the vice president from 14 November 2072 to 6 March 2079. At that time, Jitendra had taken government service as Pun's personal secretary. Police officials claim that Jitendra is currently in America and his brother Dipesh is in India. Jitendra had gone to America to take helicopter pilot training. 

Another son of former Vice President Pun, Dipesh Asar, was involved in smuggling 61 kg of gold smuggled from Hong Kong in 2080 in Brek Su and before that 9 kg of gold was smuggled in Vep on 10th December 2079. Investigating Deepesh's involvement in the gold smuggling case, the Gold Investigation Commission also suggested the government to conduct further investigations. Dipesh is also accused in the fake Bhutanese refugee case and cooperative fraud case.

Jeevan Kumar Gurung, who was the Vice President, was arrested on February 14 in the Baramat 14 kg gold case at Tribhuvan Airport on 19 December 2080. He was later released on bail.

According to the order issued by the government under the Customs Act, 2064, under the title of 'Jhitigunta', women can bring 50 grams and men 25 grams and up to 200 grams of prepared gold by paying customs duty. Other than that, gold transactions are considered punishable. Section 57 of the Customs Act, 2064 states that 'anyone who steals, exports or imports stolen goods or attempts to do so, or exports or imports goods from elsewhere where they are only allowed to export-imports, is considered to have committed an offence'. There is provision for imprisonment for 1 to 3 years if the crime is between 1 million to 3 million rupees, and 3 to 5 years for the crime.