Nepali Times ePaper
Dear Nepali Times Readers,
From gold smuggling to land grabs and fake refugee papers, a web of scandals has ensnared Nepali politicians and businessmen.
Former Maoist speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, accused of smuggling 60kg of gold from Hong Kong and 9kg concealed in vape devices, was arrested. His son Rahul is already in custody. Other Maoists, including Finance Minister Barsaman Pun, former Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar, and Dipesh Pun, son of former vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun, are implicated in the investigation.
A scandal involving the unlawful transfer of nearly 14.45 hectares of land in Baluwatar to private owners saw no actions taken against figures like Baburam Bhattarai and Madhav Kumar Nepal, despite their alleged collusion.
The Fake Refugee Scandal implicated politicians and bureaucrats partnering with human traffickers, and arrested included former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand and UML leaders. Family members of prominent politicians, such as Arzu Rana Deuba and Manju Khand, were accused.
Galaxy TV co-founder G B Rai and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane face allegations of embezzling funds from cooperatives, with Rai currently evading authorities. Lamichhane refuted allegations and transferred the investigating CIB chief.
The Bansbari Land Scam led to the arrest of CG Holdings' Arun Chaudhary, with his brother Binod Chaudhary questioned. Investigations into the illegal land acquisition, dating back to 1986, are ongoing.
Also read editorial summarising Nepal’s current kleptomania.
Other Highlights:
Nepalis Play Russian Roulette in a Distant War
Despite a ban, hundreds of Nepali men, lured by social media promise and desperate for work, fight and die in the Ukraine war for Russia. Families back home, devastated by casualties and lies, pressure the Nepal government to bring them home. Investigation by Saurav Dahal.
Denmark’s Best Baker is a Nepali
Nepali Sanjiv Giri is a top baker in Denmark. After trying other culinary paths, he discovered his passion for baking and honed his skills through various programs in Nepal, Denmark, and France. Despite long hours and personal sacrifice, Giri has won awards for his baguettes, croissants, and cakes. He now owns Maison d'Brød bakery in Copenhagen and dreams of opening a baking school in Nepal someday. Visha Onta profiles Giri.
Nepal recently improved girls' education, but dropout rates remain high. Now, older women are going back to school despite facing social stigma and lack of family support. Their perseverance highlights the importance of education for women and society as a whole. Feature by Sahina Shrestha.
Watch video:
This and more at nepalitimes.com.
Have a great weekend.
Nepali Times