Nepal’s CIB Questions Bhimkant Bhandari in Gold Smuggling Case

Kathmandu, Nepal – Bhimkant Bhandari, a close associate of CPN-Maoist Center leader Barshman Pun, has been summoned for questioning by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police in connection with a gold smuggling case.

Bhandari was called in for questioning at the CIB office recently.

The CIB has initiated this inquiry into Bhandari, who was already facing legal proceedings related to financial irregularities and money laundering. These allegations arose after it was confirmed that he had amassed significant wealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his involvement in a recent gold smuggling case came to light.

Bhandari, who held the position of Nayabsubba, served in the secretariats of several prominent Maoist leaders, including Finance Minister Pun, former Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, General Administration Minister Hitraj Pandey, and Social Welfare Minister Asha Koirala.

Despite being a government employee, Bhandari, who worked closely with influential Maoist ministers, experienced an unusually rapid increase in income. Consequently, a case has been registered against him in a special court to investigate these allegations.