Nepal’s former finance minister has been arrested in connection with allegations of money laundering
Nepal’s former finance minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has been apprehended in connection with alleged money laundering as authorities ramp up their corruption investigations.
Authorities reported that a 66-year-old senior figure in the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and a notable member of the former government led by K.P. Sharma Oli were apprehended on Monday night at a hotel in western Nepal.
Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle confirmed that Paudel is currently being transported to Kathmandu, where he is anticipated to be formally handed over to the Department of Money Laundering Investigation for further questioning.
His arrest follows several months after the downfall of Oli’s administration, which was marked by extensive anti-corruption protests that escalated into violence, resulting in at least 76 fatalities and over 2,500 injuries. Flames engulfed multiple government institutions, including the national parliament building, during the unrest.
Both the former prime minister and his home minister were previously arrested for their inability to manage the violence, although they have since been released on bail.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah, a 36-year-old former rapper who took office in March following a decisive electoral win on an anti-corruption platform, has pledged to persist in investigating alleged abuses of power by former leaders.
Paudel has yet to make a public statement regarding the allegations, while a UML party official mentioned that senior members of the party are set to convene on Tuesday to discuss the matter.
The former minister has held various significant roles in successive Nepalese governments.
