Special Court orders Mahara’s release on Rs 100,000 bail in gold smuggling case

Setopati

Kathmandu, June 1

The Special Court has ordered the release of former speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara on a bail of Rs 100,000 in a corruption case related to the gold smuggling incident involving electronic cigarettes (vapes).

A bench of Special Court Chairman Sudarshan Dev Bhatta and member Bidur Koirala, issued the order on Monday.

“...Krishna Bahadur Mahara shall be released upon depositing cash bail of Rs 100,000 or equivalent bank guarantee, and kept on regular court appearance for trial proceedings,” the order states.

The court has ordered that Mahara be sent to prison if he fails to deposit bail.

The court considered Mahara’s statements to investigating officers and the court, complaints alleging gold smuggling via vapes, and phone conversations between Mahara, Daojin Wang, and Arun Pokharel while issuing the bail order.

The case was filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) against Mahara and others, seeking recovery of approximately Rs 77.87 million.