Kathmandu, June 17 -- The Armed Police Force has released 649 electric vehicles that were held for nine days on suspicion of exploiting leaked budget details. The BYD cars, intercepted at multiple checkpoints along the Korala-Jomsom-Pokhara corridor, were freed after an internal investigation cleared them of custom violations, though the official report remains hidden from the public.

Security personnel had impounded the vehicles at Kushma in Parbat, Hemja in Kaski, and Jomsom in Mustang. The mass seizure occurred just before the budget presentation for the upcoming fiscal year of 2026-27, following allegations that importers received insider information about impending changes to customs duties.

Bidur Chudal, chief of the Mustang Custo...