The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has launched an investigation against former Vice President and Maoist leader Nanda Bahadur Pun and his two sons, Jitendra and Dipesh, in connection with a gold smuggling case that took place three years ago.
According to the CIB, Jitendra allegedly misused his father’s position to obtain an identity card showing him as a resident of Humla, allowing him to cross the Nepal-China border. Reports and video evidence had previously surfaced showing Jitendra in Taklakot, a Chinese border town, where he reportedly received four kilograms of gold.
The case came to light after he failed to pay the agreed principal and interest amount to the Chinese parties involved in the smuggling deal. Jitendra had presented documents identifying himself as the son and private secretary of the then Vice President to gain the trust of the Chinese smuggling network. Later, evidence also revealed that Chinese smugglers had communicated directly with former Vice President Pun after payment issues arose. However, at that time, no investigation had been initiated against Pun himself.
Pun’s other son, Dipesh, has also been linked to two major smuggling incidents — 61 kilograms of gold hidden in brake shoes smuggled from Hong Kong in Ashar 2080 (mid-2023) and around nine kilograms of gold concealed in vape cartridges smuggled in Poush 2079 (late 2022).
The CIB has now officially begun probing their involvement in the gold smuggling cases.
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