Kathmandu, March 13

Controversial Member of Parliament representing Unified CPN-Maoist Lharkyal Lama was arrested after14 bullets were found from his locker in Nepal Investment Bank Ltd here today.

The bullets were confiscated from Lama’s Durbar Marg-based NIBL locker when Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority was conducting investigation into a case against Lama.

CIAA handed over Lama to Metropolitan Police Range, Durbar Marg, from where he was taken to Metropolitan Police Crime Division, Teku, and detained under the Arms and Ammunition Act.

He faces one-three years in prison or a fine of Rs 20,000 to Rs 100,000 or both if found guilty of possessing ammunition.

Chief of the MPCD, Teku, SSP Vikram Singh Thapa said the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, has remanded Lama for five days in custody for further investigation.

He said a panel led by SP Pradhyumna Karki of the Metropolitan Police Circle, Teku, would look into why the bullets were kept in the locker and find the whereabouts of the gun.

Commenting on Lama’s arrest, Unified CPN-Maoist General Secretary Krishna Bahadur Mahara said he was looking into the case and would only be able to comment further on Monday.

Talking over phone from Rolpa, Mahara said probe against Lama should be based on facts and the police should have taken the permission of the Speaker to arrest him.

Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar said police had informed her about Lama’s arrest.

Sources claimed that MPs would only be suspended when they were arrested on the charge of corruption and in other cases they would only be suspended from their position after convicted.

Co-spokesperson for Parliament Secretariat Sudarshan Kuinkel said the secretariat was awaiting the letter from the police administration regarding charges against Lama, before taking any decision on his CA membership.

Who is this MP?

Born in Helambu of Sindhupalchowk 51 years ago, Lama became chairperson of the Gumba Management Committee during the last Nepali Congress-led government for five years.

He became member of the first Constituent Assembly, representing CPN-UML. He was state minister for finance for a few months during Jhalanath Khanal-led government.

Lama was forced to resign as state minister following the controversy over his dual citizenship, which still remains a mystery.

Lama joined Unified CPN-Maoist after UML decided not to field the same CA members in proportionate representation system for the second CA.

Lama became a member of second CA to replace Shambhu Hajari Paswan after Supreme Court quashed his CA membership.

Contraband not allowed in lockers

KATHMANDU: Deputy General Manager of Nepal Investment Bank Limited Rajan Amatya said his bank could not be blamed for the seizure of contraband from Lama’s locker.

“Every locker user signs a document saying they are not putting any contraband in it. Due to privacy policy we cannot look into their bags that they put their valuables in,” Amatya said, adding that if the regulatory bodies come up with new guidelines allowing the banks to inspect the locker users’ valuables, then the banks can start doing so.

When asked why the metal detector at the bank failed to detect Lama’s bullets, Amatya said since bullets were like other metals, the metal detectors could not detect it.

“Normally our security guards frisks the locker users to check if anybody is carrying any weapon, but when somebody carries small bullets, it is difficult to intercept,” he added.

Spokesperson for the Nepal Rastra Bank Trilochan Pangeni said the standard rule prohibited one from placing explosives, narcotic drugs and other contraband in lockers but Lama appeared to have taken advantage of the legal loophole.

“The standard rule requires a client to sign an undertaking that he is not placing any contraband in his locker and I am sure Lama must have also signed the same undertaking,” he said and added that the misuse of bank locker highlighted the need for a policy change.

“Now the banks’ committees should inspect the valuables before the locker users put their stuff into lockers,” Pangeni added.

“When one decides to use a bank locker, s/he must be prepared to compromise on his privacy rules.”