Kathmandu, April 9 -- The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has filed a corruption case at the Special Court against former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, joint secretary Arun Pokharel and others, accusing them of facilitating gold smuggling concealed in electronic cigarettes.

The anti-graft body has named Mahara, Pokharel and Mahara's son Rahul, among the defendants, claiming around Rs70 million in damages. The case alleges that they colluded with a Chinese smuggling network to illegally import gold disguised as vape devices.

According to the charge sheet, the accused played a role in clearing the contraband brought into Nepal in December 2022 by a Chinese group using e-cigarettes as cover.

What is the case?

The...