Interpol has requested additional details regarding a letter sent to issue a red notice against former president of the Nepali Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and his wife, former foreign minister Arzu Rana.
According to a high-level source, the Interpol headquarters in Lyon has asked for further information after receiving a request from the National Central Bureau (NCB), the Interpol section of Nepal Police, to issue a red notice against the Deuba couple.
“A letter has been sent from here, but no response has come from there yet,” the source said. “Since the case involves an investigation by the Department of Money Laundering Investigation (DMLI), further details have also been requested. The documentation is currently being processed."
Interpol has not yet issued a red notice based on the information provided so far. Once the NCB submits the requested details, Interpol Headquarters will decide whether or not to issue a red notice against the Deuba couple.
Some media reports have claimed that Interpol declined the request, citing insufficient grounds for money laundering charges. Those reports suggest that Interpol sought clarification on the predicate offense associated with the money laundering. However, the source said that the matter is still in the procedural phase.
The DMLI had previously obtained an arrest warrant to investigate the Deuba couple.
On September 9 of last year, an arson attack occurred at Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha, during which the couple sustained injuries. Videos later surfaced allegedly showing partially burnt cash found inside the house.
The DMLI subsequently sought permission to arrest the couple as part of the investigation into the incident.
After obtaining an arrest warrant from the Kathmandu District Court, the department formally requested the NCB to initiate the process for a red notice through Interpol.
The Deuba couple had traveled to Hong Kong for medical treatment but have not returned to Nepal. Authorities initiated the process for a red notice through Interpol after their continued absence.
