"Central Bureau of Investigation"

#13031735

27 November 2025

Former Nepali House Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara is escorted in a police van from the central jail in Kathmandu, Nepal, to the district court following a court order to release him on bail in a gold smuggling case on November 27, 2025. Former Speaker and CPN (Maoist Centre) Vice-chair Krishna Bahadur Mahara is arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in connection with a gold smuggling case. The Patan High Court orders his release on a bail amount of NRs 2 million. Mahara is arrested on October 12, 2025, following fresh instructions from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which conducts an inquiry into his alleged involvement in smuggling gold concealed inside electronic cigarettes (vapes) in collaboration with a Chinese organized group. According to police, the CIAA seeks his detention to move forward with a renewed probe into his role in facilitating the entry of smuggled gold through the vape-import channel. Mahara is questioned by the CIAA only days earlier, on October 9, 2025. Although his name surfaces in the gold smuggling case three years ago, both the District Government Attorney's Office and Nepal Police previously free him during earlier rounds of investigation. Authorities now allege that Mahara uses his political influence to help a smuggling racket bring gold into Nepal in 2022, an operation that also leads to the arrest of his son, Rahul Mahara, on suspicion of involvement. In March 2024, Mahara is arrested from Kapilvastu and brought to Kathmandu for questioning related to the case. The Kathmandu District Court later remands him to custody, but he is allowed to stay at Norvic Hospital citing health complications. A high-level government commission led by former High Court Chief Judge Dilli Raj Acharya earlier criticizes the CIB for ''intentionally avoiding'' a full investigation into Mahara and other senior officials allegedly linked to large-scale gold smuggling.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13031738

27 November 2025

Former Nepali House Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara is escorted in a police van from the central jail in Kathmandu, Nepal, to the district court following a court order to release him on bail in a gold smuggling case on November 27, 2025. Former Speaker and CPN (Maoist Centre) Vice-chair Krishna Bahadur Mahara is arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in connection with a gold smuggling case. The Patan High Court orders his release on a bail amount of NRs 2 million. Mahara is arrested on October 12, 2025, following fresh instructions from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which conducts an inquiry into his alleged involvement in smuggling gold concealed inside electronic cigarettes (vapes) in collaboration with a Chinese organized group. According to police, the CIAA seeks his detention to move forward with a renewed probe into his role in facilitating the entry of smuggled gold through the vape-import channel. Mahara is questioned by the CIAA only days earlier, on October 9, 2025. Although his name surfaces in the gold smuggling case three years ago, both the District Government Attorney's Office and Nepal Police previously free him during earlier rounds of investigation. Authorities now allege that Mahara uses his political influence to help a smuggling racket bring gold into Nepal in 2022, an operation that also leads to the arrest of his son, Rahul Mahara, on suspicion of involvement. In March 2024, Mahara is arrested from Kapilvastu and brought to Kathmandu for questioning related to the case. The Kathmandu District Court later remands him to custody, but he is allowed to stay at Norvic Hospital citing health complications. A high-level government commission led by former High Court Chief Judge Dilli Raj Acharya earlier criticizes the CIB for ''intentionally avoiding'' a full investigation into Mahara and other senior officials allegedly linked to large-scale gold smuggling.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12662512

21 August 2025

Santosh Pariyar, Chief Whip of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), reaches the Nakkhu Prison in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 20, 2025, to meet party founder Rabi Lamichhane. Lamichhane, the former Home Minister and founder of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is kept behind bars on a cooperative scam. Cases are filed against Lamichhane in Butwal (Supreme Cooperative), Kaski (Suryadarshan Cooperative), Chitwan (Sahara Cooperative), Kathmandu (Swarnalaxmi Cooperative), and Parsa (Sano Paila Cooperative). In all the districts, Lamichhane is accused of diverting deposits to Gorkha Media Network, which ran the now-defunct Galaxy 4K Television. Lamichhane is arrested from his party office in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 18, 2024, by a team from the Central Investigation Bureau on charges of organized crime and misappropriation of cooperative funds. He is accused of illegally amassing millions of rupees from thousands of savers. The case also alleges that Lamichhane does not disclose the source of NRs 278,944,705, which is considered to be of illicit origin.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12662516

21 August 2025

The entrance of Nakkhu Prison in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 20, 2025, is where the former Home Minister and founder of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is held on charges of scamming and embezzling millions of rupees through a cooperative scam. Lamichhane, the former Home Minister and founder of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is kept behind bars for the cooperative scam. Cases are filed against Lamichhane in Butwal (Supreme Cooperative), Kaski (Suryadarshan Cooperative), Chitwan (Sahara Cooperative), Kathmandu (Swarnalaxmi Cooperative), and Parsa (Sano Paila Cooperative). In all the districts, Lamichhane is accused of diverting deposits to Gorkha Media Network, which ran the now-defunct Galaxy 4K Television. Lamichhane is arrested from his party office in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 18, 2024, by a team from the Central Investigation Bureau on charges of organized crime and misappropriation of cooperative funds. He is accused of illegally amassing millions of rupees from thousands of savers. The case also alleges that Lamichhane does not disclose the source of NRs 278,944,705, which is considered to be of illicit origin.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12662517

21 August 2025

Former Nepali Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-Maoist Center, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, reaches the Nakkhu prison to meet Rabi Lamichhane, who is arrested in a cooperative scam on August 20, 2025. Lamichhane, the former Home Minister and Founder of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is kept behind bars for the cooperative scam. Cases are filed against Lamichhane in Butwal (Supreme Cooperative), Kaski (Suryadarshan Cooperative), Chitwan (Sahara Cooperative), Kathmandu (Swarnalaxmi Cooperative), and Parsa (Sano Paila Cooperative). In all the districts, Lamichhane is accused of diverting deposits to Gorkha Media Network, which ran the now-defunct Galaxy 4K Television. Lamichhane is arrested from his party office in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 18, 2024, by a team from the Central Investigation Bureau on charges of organized crime and misappropriation of cooperative funds. He is accused of illegally amassing millions of rupees from thousands of savers. The case also alleges that Lamichhane does not disclose the source of NRs 278,944,705, which is considered to be of illicit origin.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12662523

21 August 2025

Former Nepali Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-Maoist Center, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, reaches the Nakkhu prison to meet Rabi Lamichhane, who is arrested in a cooperative scam on August 20, 2025. Lamichhane, the former Home Minister and Founder of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is kept behind bars for the cooperative scam. Cases are filed against Lamichhane in Butwal (Supreme Cooperative), Kaski (Suryadarshan Cooperative), Chitwan (Sahara Cooperative), Kathmandu (Swarnalaxmi Cooperative), and Parsa (Sano Paila Cooperative). In all the districts, Lamichhane is accused of diverting deposits to Gorkha Media Network, which ran the now-defunct Galaxy 4K Television. Lamichhane is arrested from his party office in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 18, 2024, by a team from the Central Investigation Bureau on charges of organized crime and misappropriation of cooperative funds. He is accused of illegally amassing millions of rupees from thousands of savers. The case also alleges that Lamichhane does not disclose the source of NRs 278,944,705, which is considered to be of illicit origin.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12662529

21 August 2025

Former Nepali Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-Maoist Center, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, reaches the Nakkhu prison to meet Rabi Lamichhane, who is arrested in a cooperative scam on August 20, 2025. Lamichhane, the former Home Minister and Founder of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is kept behind bars for the cooperative scam. Cases are filed against Lamichhane in Butwal (Supreme Cooperative), Kaski (Suryadarshan Cooperative), Chitwan (Sahara Cooperative), Kathmandu (Swarnalaxmi Cooperative), and Parsa (Sano Paila Cooperative). In all the districts, Lamichhane is accused of diverting deposits to Gorkha Media Network, which ran the now-defunct Galaxy 4K Television. Lamichhane is arrested from his party office in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 18, 2024, by a team from the Central Investigation Bureau on charges of organized crime and misappropriation of cooperative funds. He is accused of illegally amassing millions of rupees from thousands of savers. The case also alleges that Lamichhane does not disclose the source of NRs 278,944,705, which is considered to be of illicit origin.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12662530

21 August 2025

Former Nepali Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-Maoist Center, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, reaches the Nakkhu prison to meet Rabi Lamichhane, who is arrested in a cooperative scam on August 20, 2025. Lamichhane, the former Home Minister and Founder of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is kept behind bars for the cooperative scam. Cases are filed against Lamichhane in Butwal (Supreme Cooperative), Kaski (Suryadarshan Cooperative), Chitwan (Sahara Cooperative), Kathmandu (Swarnalaxmi Cooperative), and Parsa (Sano Paila Cooperative). In all the districts, Lamichhane is accused of diverting deposits to Gorkha Media Network, which ran the now-defunct Galaxy 4K Television. Lamichhane is arrested from his party office in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 18, 2024, by a team from the Central Investigation Bureau on charges of organized crime and misappropriation of cooperative funds. He is accused of illegally amassing millions of rupees from thousands of savers. The case also alleges that Lamichhane does not disclose the source of NRs 278,944,705, which is considered to be of illicit origin.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12662531

21 August 2025

Former Nepali Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-Maoist Center, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, reaches the Nakkhu prison to meet Rabi Lamichhane, who is arrested in a cooperative scam on August 20, 2025. Lamichhane, the former Home Minister and Founder of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is kept behind bars for the cooperative scam. Cases are filed against Lamichhane in Butwal (Supreme Cooperative), Kaski (Suryadarshan Cooperative), Chitwan (Sahara Cooperative), Kathmandu (Swarnalaxmi Cooperative), and Parsa (Sano Paila Cooperative). In all the districts, Lamichhane is accused of diverting deposits to Gorkha Media Network, which ran the now-defunct Galaxy 4K Television. Lamichhane is arrested from his party office in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 18, 2024, by a team from the Central Investigation Bureau on charges of organized crime and misappropriation of cooperative funds. He is accused of illegally amassing millions of rupees from thousands of savers. The case also alleges that Lamichhane does not disclose the source of NRs 278,944,705, which is considered to be of illicit origin.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12662513

21 August 2025

A Nepal Armed Police personnel peeks through a peephole at the gate of the Nakkhu Prison in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 20, 2025, following the visit of former Prime Minister and CPN-Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to meet Rabi Lamichhane. Lamichhane, the former Home Minister and Founder of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is kept behind bars on a cooperative scam. Cases are filed against Lamichhane in Butwal (Supreme Cooperative), Kaski (Suryadarshan Cooperative), Chitwan (Sahara Cooperative), Kathmandu (Swarnalaxmi Cooperative), and Parsa (Sano Paila Cooperative). In all the districts, Lamichhane is accused of diverting deposits to Gorkha Media Network, which ran the now-defunct Galaxy 4K Television. Lamichhane is arrested from his party office in Kathmandu on October 18, 2024, by a team from the Central Investigation Bureau on charges of organized crime and misappropriation of cooperative funds. He is accused of illegally amassing millions of rupees from thousands of savers. The case also alleges that Lamichhane has not disclosed the source of NRs 278,944,705, which is considered to be of illicit origin.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12662514

21 August 2025

Santosh Pariyar, Chief Whip of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), reaches the Nakkhu Prison in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 20, 2025, to meet party founder Rabi Lamichhane. Lamichhane, the former Home Minister and founder of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is kept behind bars on a cooperative scam. Cases are filed against Lamichhane in Butwal (Supreme Cooperative), Kaski (Suryadarshan Cooperative), Chitwan (Sahara Cooperative), Kathmandu (Swarnalaxmi Cooperative), and Parsa (Sano Paila Cooperative). In all the districts, Lamichhane is accused of diverting deposits to Gorkha Media Network, which ran the now-defunct Galaxy 4K Television. Lamichhane is arrested from his party office in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 18, 2024, by a team from the Central Investigation Bureau on charges of organized crime and misappropriation of cooperative funds. He is accused of illegally amassing millions of rupees from thousands of savers. The case also alleges that Lamichhane does not disclose the source of NRs 278,944,705, which is considered to be of illicit origin.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12662515

21 August 2025

Santosh Pariyar, Chief Whip of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), reaches the Nakkhu Prison in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 20, 2025, to meet party founder Rabi Lamichhane. Lamichhane, the former Home Minister and founder of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is kept behind bars on a cooperative scam. Cases are filed against Lamichhane in Butwal (Supreme Cooperative), Kaski (Suryadarshan Cooperative), Chitwan (Sahara Cooperative), Kathmandu (Swarnalaxmi Cooperative), and Parsa (Sano Paila Cooperative). In all the districts, Lamichhane is accused of diverting deposits to Gorkha Media Network, which ran the now-defunct Galaxy 4K Television. Lamichhane is arrested from his party office in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 18, 2024, by a team from the Central Investigation Bureau on charges of organized crime and misappropriation of cooperative funds. He is accused of illegally amassing millions of rupees from thousands of savers. The case also alleges that Lamichhane does not disclose the source of NRs 278,944,705, which is considered to be of illicit origin.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12466404

12 June 2025

The exterior of the Bundeskriminalamt (Federal Criminal Police Office) under the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior is seen in Vienna, Austria, on June 8, 2025. The institution is responsible for major criminal investigations and national police coordination.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12466405

12 June 2025

The exterior of the Bundeskriminalamt (Federal Criminal Police Office) under the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior is seen in Vienna, Austria, on June 8, 2025. The institution is responsible for major criminal investigations and national police coordination.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12466406

12 June 2025

The exterior of the Bundeskriminalamt (Federal Criminal Police Office) under the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior is seen in Vienna, Austria, on June 8, 2025. The institution is responsible for major criminal investigations and national police coordination.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12466407

12 June 2025

The exterior of the Bundeskriminalamt (Federal Criminal Police Office) under the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior is seen in Vienna, Austria, on June 8, 2025. The institution is responsible for major criminal investigations and national police coordination.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.