Police on Wednesday arrested Rahul Mahara, son of senior Maoist leader and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara, in connection with gold smuggling.

Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Kiran Bajaracharya confirmed the arrest, adding that they were recording his statement.

“Rahul has been taken into custody. We are now recording his statement,” Additional Inspector General Bajaracharya told the Post.

On December 25 last year, the airport customs office seized electronic cigarettes. Parts of those cigarettes were stolen from the warehouse of the customs office, prompting the CIB investigation. According to police, they later found that the gold was concealed inside the electric cigarettes.

During the investigation, police had found that the Mahara duo were in regular contact with a Chinese national who was allegedly smuggling gold concealed inside electric cigarettes in several lots. The Maharas have been refuting the allegations.

The government authorities however were widely criticised for not investigating the former Speaker and his son for their alleged involvement in the case.