Money laundering case filed against CPN-UML’s Bishnu Paudel in Kathmandu

Kathmandu – A case of money laundering has been filed against CPN-UML Vice Chairman and former Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel at the Special Court in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Based on the report from the Department of Money Laundering Investigation, the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office filed a supplementary charge sheet against him on Thursday.

According to the Special Court, the case names Paudel along with 16 individuals and 10 companies as defendants. The Special Public Prosecutor’s Office has demanded a recovery of Rs 209 million from Paudel. An amount of Rs 634,000 in his account at Everest Bank has been seized.

The department has filed a supplementary charge sheet after further investigation into the money laundering case involving defendant Deepak Bhatt, whose case was already registered in court.

Former Finance Minister Paudel is accused of facilitating an environment for businessman Deepak Bhatt and others to hide and evade illegal assets. The charge sheet states that he acted as an accomplice in this crime, as per the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2064.

Paudel is alleged to have abused his position and influence to facilitate the transfer of shares of ‘Shreeram Tobacco Industry Pvt. Ltd.’, which had a high market value, to Deepak Bhatt’s company ‘Himalayan Asset Management Pvt. Ltd.’ at a significantly low price, thereby receiving financial benefits.

During the investigation into money laundering, UML Vice Chairman Paudel was taken into custody from Surkhet on Ashadh 8 and brought to Kathmandu.

After extending the investigation period multiple times through the Special Court, the Public Prosecutor’s Office filed the case on Thursday.