KATHMANDU, MARCH 18

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has been permitted to remand CPN (Maoist Centre) Vice-Chair and former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara in judicial custody for four days to proceed with the investigation of the gold scam.

The Kathmandu District Court today remanded Mahara in custody for further probe. He was produced before the district court today for the extension of his remand.

Bureau spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati, told RSS that further investigation has progressed with the extension of the remand. Earlier, the CIB had released Mahara after recording his statement. Leader Mahara was arrested from Kapilvastu this morning and taken into custody in Kathmandu.

The high-level probe commission on gold smuggling formed under the leadership of former high court chief judge Dilli Raj Acharya had recommended an investigation into Mahara. Police arrested Maoist leader Mahara in line with the recommendation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane on Sunday had directed the police to proceed with the investigation process against all those involved in the gold smuggling case and those recommended for action by the high commission.

Mahara was allegedly linked to a Chinese national involved in smuggling 61 kg of gold concealed in 'Brake Shoes' on July 18 last year and nine kilograms of gold concealed in electronic cigarettes earlier. Mahara's son Rahul and former Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun's son Dipesh Pun have already been arrested in the case.

Earlier, the then CIB chief, Additional Inspector General of Police Kiran Bajracharya, was transferred to the Police Headquarters after the commission pointed out flaws in the investigation of the case.

Additional Inspector General of Police Shyam Lal Gyawali has been sent there. Superintendent of Police Sanjay Singh Thapa and Deputy Superintendents of Police Rugam Kunwar and Durga Dahal have been summoned to the headquarters.

A new police team of CIB is currently investigating the case. The Council of Ministers had also decided to implement the report of the commission. Based on this, the police have intensified the investigation.

At the time, the CIB had released some people associated with the Chinese nationals involved in the gold scam. Mahara was one of them.