The government has launched a detailed investigation into money laundering charges against former Prime Ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba, KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal and former ministers Arju Rana Deuba and Deepak Khadka. Former Minister Khadka was arrested on Sunday during the investigation. The Money Laundering Investigation Department has launched further investigations against three former Prime Ministers and two former ministers with the help of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police. The department, which had started the initial investigation six months ago, had sent a letter to the Police Headquarters last week seeking assistance in the investigation. Based on that letter, the CIB arrested former minister and Congress leader Khadka. Immediately after Khadka's arrest, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung made the 'CIB's urgent arrest warrant' public on social media Facebook. He also wrote on Facebook that 'former Energy Minister Khadka was taken into custody in the course of an investigation into the money recovered from his residence during the 24 Bhadra agitation.' Home Minister Gurung and the department have not disclosed the investigation of other leaders.

The Kathmandu District Court has already granted permission to investigate Khadka, who was arrested from his residence in Budhanilkantha. The court has stated that since the Money Laundering Investigation Department's request for permission appears reasonable, it has been granted a 7 (seven) day remand effective from Sunday as per Section 17 (4) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2064.

Burnt notes were found in the houses of some leaders who were vandalized and set on fire by protesters on 24 Bhadra. After that, the department started an investigation by collecting the deed. The department has also collected preliminary details of some of the leaders' movable and immovable properties and has started a detailed investigation, the department has stated. 'After finding objections in the initial inquiry and investigation, it has been taken for a detailed investigation,' an official of the department told Kantipur, 'We are taking the help of the CIB in the investigation.'

CIB Chief AIG Manoj KC informed that they are assisting in the arrest and investigation after the department requested through the Police Headquarters. He said that former Minister Khadka was arrested in the same process. The CIB will have to complete the investigation and prepare a report and send it to the department. After that, the department will seek the opinion of the government attorney's office. If a case is filed, the department itself will have to file a case against the accused in a special court with a demand for imprisonment and fine. If a case does not have to be filed, it can decide from there and send it to the Attorney General's Office. 

Leaders have been accused of abusing public office and acquiring illegal wealth. But government mechanisms have not shown the courage to investigate leaders who are in power continuously. The department has intensified the investigation after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) won about two-thirds of the seats in the last election and formed a single-majority government.

According to department sources, the search for movable and immovable properties of former Prime Ministers, former ministers, their relatives and family members who were caught in the scope of investigation has reached a stage. The department had written a letter to the Rastra Bank, Nepal Securities Board and the Company Registrar's Office, requesting details of savings, investments, transactions and registered companies in various banks/financial institutions. An official informed that the department has received the initial details. The department had asked the Land Management and Records Department for details of the land in their names. 

According to former DIG of Police and former head of CIB Hemanta Malla, this is the first case where an investigation has been initiated against former prime ministers for the crime of money laundering. He claims that investigating through the CIB will make it easier to reach the depth of the crime. ‘In the past, the department used to conduct investigations through the CIB in such complex and special nature. This time, it seems that cooperation has been taken as a continuation, which is a good thing,’ he said. 

According to department sources, the search for movable and immovable properties of former prime ministers, former ministers, their relatives and family members who have been drawn into the scope of investigation has reached a stage. The department had written to the Nepal Rastra Bank, the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal and the Company Registrar Office, seeking details of savings, investments, transactions and registered companies in various banks/financial institutions.  According to Malla, investigations against those in power and those in power were not easy. “Investigations against such people were often a game of suppression and influence,” he said. The current investigation involving leaders has concluded that many decision-makers hesitate to dare to earn wealth by playing politics and flouting the law, says former DIG Malla. 

Former Prime Minister Deuba was in a position of public benefit for three decades. He won from Dadeldhura in all parliamentary and Constituent Assembly elections from 2048 to 2079. He was not in the race in the House of Representatives elections on 21 Falgun. Deuba was the President of the Nepali Congress before the special general convention held on 27-30 Pus. 

Deuba, who became Home Minister in 2048, had been Prime Minister five times in 2052, 2058, 2061, 2074 and 2078. Deuba's wife Arju Rana Deuba became a proportional representation MP from the Nepali Congress in 2064, 2070 and 2079. Arju was the Foreign Minister during the Gen-G movement. Protesters had reached the Deuba couple's residence on 24 Bhadra and assaulted them. Their house was also set on fire.  The Deuba couple, who had been treated at the hospital here for some time, went to Singapore on 10 Kartik for further treatment. They returned to Nepal on 28 Kartik. Deuba went to Singapore again on 13 Falgun. Arju also reached Singapore via Delhi. Their current whereabouts have not been disclosed. Deuba's son Jai Bir Singh and Arju's brother Bhushan Rana are also outside the country. 

The department had raided Bhushan's residence in Jawalakhel on 2 Asoj and seized some equipment and documents. A few days later, the department raided the houses of some of Bhushan's relatives. Former Prime Minister Deuba's nephew Prakash Deuba has also been out of contact after the department launched an investigation. A source close to him says that he has reached the US. 

Oli, who is also the UML chairman, was the Prime Minister four times in 2072, 2074, 2077 and 2081, the Home Minister in 2051 and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in 2063. Apart from the recently concluded House of Representatives and Constituent Assembly elections in 2064, Oli has won six elections since 2048. In the most recent election, he was defeated by senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Balendra Shah. Oli was arrested on Saturday after the Gauri Bahadur Karki-led inquiry commission pointed out the culprits behind the suppression of the Gen-G movement on 23 Bhadra. 

Former Prime Minister and Nepali Communist Party coordinator Dahal became active in parliamentary politics after the political change of 2062/63. He has won all five parliamentary elections since 2064. He became Prime Minister three times in 2065, 2073 and 2079. Dahal had been staying at the house of controversial businessman Sharda Adhikari in Khumaltar, which was set on fire by protesters on Bhadra 24. 

Pieces of burnt banknotes and ashes found at the houses of former Prime Ministers Deuba and Dahal and former Minister Khadka were collected and subjected to forensic tests. An official of the department said that the investigation was opened after the report came out as 'positive'. The department had reached the residences of Deuba and Khadka on Asoj 5 and Dahal on Asoj 7 and prepared the documents. Leaders have been accused of abusing their positions by holding power and authority and accumulating black money earned under the guise of it. Despite being repeatedly involved in many cases including public procurement, various appointments, transfers and promotions, and embezzlement of national assets, they have never been investigated.