Why Has the Anti-Corruption Commission Filed a Corruption Case Against Former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara?

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, his son Rahul, and 27 others. The CIAA alleges that Mahara and Rahul repeatedly contacted customs officials in an attempt to evade regulations on electronic cigarettes (Vape) and colluded in gold smuggling. They have also accused Chief Customs Officer Mukti Prasad Shrestha of corruption for failing to conduct a reinspection and physical examination of a suitcase. (27 Chaitra, Kathmandu)

The CIAA claims that customs officials failed to detect the gold hidden inside the vape shipments. Those involved in bringing the gold are also accused of collaborating in smuggling. District Court Kathmandu had earlier prosecuted related parties for money laundering linked to this gold smuggling incident. This case filed by the CIAA is an additional charge related to the same matter.

The incident began on 10 Poush 2079 (approximately December 24, 2022), when a Chinese passenger, Li Hang Sung, arrived in Nepal carrying two suitcases. During customs inspection, officials found a total of 730 vape units packed inside 73 cartons. The customs staff halted inspection to conduct a physical check of the vape products and seized the goods. However, the CIAA alleges that after seizing the items, the customs officials failed to conduct a proper reinspection.

According to the CIAA, the goods were kept in an administrative building instead of the required warehouse. The vape trader Udaychandan Shrestha reportedly found no smoke emission during testing, which should have prompted further suspicion, but the customs officials allegedly colluded instead. Based on evidence of malicious conduct stemming from contact between former Speaker Mahara, his son Rahul, and customs personnel, the CIAA has initiated the legal case.