Poudel is accused of pressuring a businessman to sell the company's shares to Deepak Bhatt's company at a low price.
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UML Vice-Chairman and former Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has been arrested on charges of helping controversial businessman Deepak Bhatta to gain business benefits. Police have said that Poudel was arrested from Surkhet on Monday for a money laundering investigation.
‘It is seen that he worked to benefit Deepak Bhatta’s business.’ The statement of various parties has also come to light regarding the fact that he did so,’ said an official involved in the investigation. ‘It seems that former Finance Minister Poudel pressured a businessman to sell shares of a certain company to Deepak Bhatta’s company at a cheap price.’ When the businessman asked what benefits he would get from selling shares at a cheap price, former Finance Minister Poudel said that he would do four beneficial things. Some of the promised works were even completed by Poudel when he was Finance Minister. A statement has been received that nothing was completed. Based on that, he was arrested for investigation.'
The officer involved in the investigation has speculated that Finance Minister Poudel may have also 'parked' some assets in the names of various people. 'It seems that there was a Gen-G movement in Bhatt's company, obtaining shares at a cheap price, receiving benefits from the Finance Minister's level for that, and some transactions are still pending,' the officer said. 'Based on that, he will be arrested and the investigation will be completed.'
According to the source, after receiving information that the investigation was underway, Poudel had tried to clarify it by meeting some government officials. 'This matter reached the Prime Minister's Office,' the officer involved in the investigation said. 'After that, Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who had reached Chitwan to attend the general convention of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), directed to arrest Poudel within two hours on Monday.' Based on the same instruction, the Money Laundering Investigation Department wrote to the Surkhet-based police. Poudel had reached Surkhet on Sunday for the UML's internal election review and organizational restructuring program. At the same time, a police team deployed from the District Police Office, Surkhet arrested him. Karnali Province Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent Santosh Singh Rathore said that Poudel was being taken to Kathmandu by car. He informed that although preparations were made to send Poudel, who was arrested at 5:15 pm, by plane from Nepalgunj, he was being taken by car because there was not enough time for the flight.
The government has already filed cases in three courts on 28 Jestha against various businessmen, including the Bhatta and Shankar groups, Infinity Holdings and Himalayan Re-Insurance operators, for various economic crimes. Cases have been filed against 81 people for securities offenses in the Kathmandu District Court and 42 for insurance offenses. Cases have been filed against 39 people for money laundering offenses in the Special Court and four people for banking offenses in the Patan High Court.
A case has been filed against Shankar Group Chairman Shankarlal Agrawal and Vice Presidents Sulabh and Shahil Agrawal and Infinity Holdings Chairman Bhatta for all four offenses. The District Attorney's Office has filed the case claiming a loss of Rs 3.73 billion 85 lakh 24 thousand 227 for the offense under the Insurance Act and Rs 1.14 billion 86 lakh 9 thousand 900 for the offense under the Securities Act. A case has been registered against 39 people including Bhatta and Sulabh Agrawal in the money laundering case filed in the special court. Former Finance Minister Poudel has also been brought under the purview of the investigation for the same offense. 'The details that he mediated have been revealed from the statements of the businessmen,' said the officer involved in the investigation.
Poudel, who is also the Vice President of UML, became a minister for the eighth time on 31 Ashad 2081. Poudel, who has held the Finance Ministry five times, is one of the UML leaders who has repeatedly become ministers from the UML. He became Finance Minister for the first time in 2072 Kartik and the second time in 2077 Asoj. Similarly, Poudel, who became Finance Minister along with Deputy Prime Minister for the third time in 2078 Jestha and the fourth time in 2079 Poush, last became Finance Minister in Asad 2081. Poudel first became the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture from 2053 Chaitra 12 to 2054 Asoj 10.
From 2065 Bhadra 5 to 2066 Jestha 7, he became a minister for the second time and took charge of the Ministry of Water Resources. At that time, Pushpa Kamal Dahal became Prime Minister for the first time. Similarly, Poudel was Defense Minister in the Council of Ministers formed in 2067 BS under the leadership of Jhalanath Khanal. At that time, Poudel held the Ministry of Defense from 2067 Chaitra 3 to 2068 Bhadra 11. After that, Poudel, who became a minister five more times, held only the Ministry of Finance each time.
Poudel, who is considered clever in building a power equation, has been getting opportunities to become a minister whether KP Sharma Oli becomes the Prime Minister or in a coalition government. Poudel became the Vice President from the UML's general convention held three years ago. Poudel, who was initially elected from Palpa, was later elected from Rupandehi. Poudel, who was sentenced to 3 years in prison and a fine of 3,000 rupees in 2037 BS, had revolted in prison for 45 days.
UML has issued a statement protesting Poudel's arrest. UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has issued a statement, ‘Condemning and condemning the government’s illegal and kidnapping-style arrest of Poudel while he was in Surkhet in connection with the party’s organizational program.’ ‘The CPN (UML) has always stood firmly in favor of the rule of law, good governance and the rule of law.’ This is another culmination of the apolitical, undemocratic and naked revenge being carried out by the current ruling party against the opposition parties,’ the statement said. ‘It is clear that this repressive step is a continuation of the continuous series of attacks and political conspiracies against me and our party, the CPN (UML).’
UML has also accused the current government of being undemocratic, totalitarian and authoritarian. "We would like to warn the government to immediately stop such despicable and vindictive acts targeting opposition party leaders," the statement said.
