Former speaker and Maoist Centre leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been formally charged with gold smuggling, with authorities seeking a recovery of Rs85,528,374 from him.

The Kathmandu District Court registered the case on Monday, levelling three separate charges—organised crime, violation of the Customs Act, and gold smuggling. Prosecutors have demanded the highest possible prison sentence under the organised crime law.

Deepak Kumar Shrestha, information officer of the court, said that the case is registered on Monday, while the process to record Mahara’s statement and the custody hearing will take place on Tuesday. The court will then decide whether to release him on bail or remand him in judicial custody for trial.

If bail is set, Mahara may secure release upon paying the equivalent amount; otherwise, he will be detained pending further proceedings.

Mahara was arrested on Sunday by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) for allegedly collaborating with a Chinese organised network to smuggle gold concealed in electronic cigarettes. He had previously been cleared in connection with the same case.