The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has arrested Nepali Congress leader and former energy minister Deepak Khadka.

Additional Inspector General of Police Manoj KC, chief of CIB, said Khadka was taken into custody from Budhanilkantha on Sunday morning.

The Department of Money Laundering Investigation had earlier sent a letter to Police Headquarters seeking an inquiry into Khadka. Acting on the request, police detained him for further investigation.

Images and videos had surfaced showing burnt fragments of banknotes at the residences of Khadka and former prime ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal following the vandalism and arson on September 9.

The findings were later confirmed through forensic laboratory tests.

Khadka had been embroiled in controversy while serving as the Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, particularly in relation to the issuance of licences and awarding of contracts for hydropower projects. 

He was accused of receiving financial benefits in exchange for facilitating licences and contracts for projects, with the alleged dealings taking place from within the minister’s quarters and the ministry premises. However, no investigation was carried out against him.

Khadka was also implicated in the alleged misappropriation of land belonging to Nepal Scouts in Lainchaur.