Authorities said the 66years old senior figure in the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and a prominent member of the former government led by K.P. Sharma Oli was detained on Monday night from a hotel in western Nepal.
Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle confirmed that Paudel is currently being transported to Kathmandu, where he is expected to be formally handed over to the Department of Money Laundering Investigation for further questioning.
His arrest comes several months after the collapse of Oli’s administration following widespread anti-corruption protests that turned deadly, leaving at least 76 people dead and over 2,500 injured. During the unrest, several government institutions, including the national parliament building, were set on fire.
Both the former prime minister and his home minister were earlier arrested for failing to control the violence, though they have since been released on bail.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah, a 36years old former rapper who assumed office in March after a sweeping electoral victory on an anti-corruption platform, has vowed to continue investigations into alleged abuses of power by previous leaders.
Paudel has not publicly responded to the allegations, while a UML party official said senior members of the party are scheduled to meet on Tuesday to address the situation.
The former minister has previously held several key positions in successive Nepalese governments.
Goodness Anunobi
