KATHMANDU: A hotelier has been nabbed in possession of 235 units of Buddha Chitta Malas and undeclared foreign currencies worth Rs 6.11 million.

Chheten Tamang, a permanent resident of Limi VDC-6, currently residing in Bauddha, KMC-6, was arrested for his alleged involvement in illegal transaction of foreign currencies and Buddha Chitta Malas.

Buddha Chitta is a tree with religious significance and its beads are used in prayer by Buddhists.

The owner of Kuvera Mahal Hotel in Thamel, KMC-9 was arrested by a team deployed from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, the CIB team had raided his hotel.

Police said they confiscated Chinese Yuan 280,551, Indian Rs 151,895, Bhutanese Ngultrum 15,390, US Dollar 119, Thai Baht 100 and NRs 1.34 million from him.

Police also recovered Buddha Chitta Malas of three different sizes collectively worth Rs 363,500 from the hotel rooms.

Tamang has been handed over to Inland Revenue Department for further investigation and action while the prayer beads will be submitted to Kathmandu District Forests Office, police said.