High Court releases Mahara on Rs 2 million bail

KATHMANDU: The Patan High Court has ordered the release of former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara on bail in a gold smuggling case.

A division bench of High Court Judges Arjun Prasad Koirala and Tejendra Prasad Sharma Sapkota issued the order on Thursday, setting bail of Rs 2 million.

The high court overturned the Kathmandu District Court’s order to put Mahara behind bars pending trial, arguing that the order did not align with the law.

The Kathmandu District Court had sent Mahara to judicial custody on October 15 for trial.

The case against Mahara relates to the smuggling of 9 kg of gold concealed in vapes by Chinese national Li Hansong in December 2022. Mahara allegedly exerted pressure on the customs officials to release the seized vapes.

Mahara has denied having any involvement in gold smuggling.

The District Government Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu, filed a charge sheet against Mahara under the Organized Crime Control Act and the Customs Act, seeking damages of Rs 85.53 million.