Kathmandu, Nepal — October 13, 2025: Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Krishna Bahadur Mahara—also a senior leader of the CPN (Maoist Centre)—was arrested on Sunday in connection with a gold smuggling operation involving electronic cigarettes, commonly known as vapes.
According to Nepal Police, Mahara was taken into custody after investigators uncovered evidence linking him and his son, Rahul Mahara, to two Chinese nationals—Li Hansong and Daojin Wang—who are believed to have operated the smuggling network from within Nepal. Authorities have identified Li Hansong as the prime suspect in importing gold concealed within vape devices, while Daojin Wang is alleged to have managed the overall smuggling operations.
Although the investigation into the gold smuggling case had progressed significantly, it was reportedly stalled for some time due to Mahara's suspected political influence. Investigators revealed that hundreds of phone calls had been exchanged among Mahara, his son, Li, and other individuals connected to the case.
