Kathmandu — The Department of Money Laundering Investigation arrested UML Vice President and former Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel from Surkhet on Monday, presenting him before the Special Court on Tuesday after collecting sufficient evidence. Paudel, who has served as minister eight times (including twice as Deputy Prime Minister) and five times as a Member of Parliament, has been remanded for seven days of custody for investigation.
Investigations revealed Paudel’s involvement in suspicious transactions with middleman Deepak Bhatt, with laptops, pen drives, and checks seized during a raid at his residence. Evidence shows Bhatt received shares worth NPR 300 million in Shriram Tobacco Company without payment, generating huge dividends linked to Paudel’s funds.
Similarly, 35 bighas of land in Butwal, hidden under the name of a cattle farm, was discovered. Paudel is also accused of facilitating licenses for Himalayan Reinsurance and seven micro-insurance companies, easing betel nut imports, and engaging in the privatization process of Janakpur Cigarette Factory — all allegedly yielding him millions in benefits.
The Special Court bench of Narayan Prasad Paudel, Hemant Rawal, and Umesh Koirala partially accepted the department’s request, granting seven days of custody. Meanwhile, Paudel’s lawyers are preparing to challenge the detention order at the Supreme Court through a habeas corpus petition under Article 73.
