Former Speaker Mahara ordered to be held in custody pending trial

The Kathmandu District Court has ordered former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara to be remanded in custody for pre-trial detention.

Following a detention hearing on Wednesday, held after a case was filed against him on charges of gold smuggling through vape devices, Judge Harka Bahadur Kshetri’s bench issued the remand order.

Mahara is accused of collaborating with a Chinese national, Li Ha Song, to smuggle gold using electronic cigarettes (vapes).

He was arrested by the police on October 12 (Asoj 26 in the Nepali calendar). Shortly after, the Kathmandu District Government Attorney’s Office filed charges against him. A claim of damages amounting to 800 million rupees (NPR 80 crore) has been made against Mahara.