Nepal’s political landscape has been jolted by the dramatic arrest and formal charges against former Speaker of Parliament Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who now stands accused of gold smuggling and organized crime. The case marks the first major corruption prosecution under Nepal’s newly-installed interim government, which took office amid nationwide upheaval and promises of reform.

The 66-year-old veteran politician, once a prominent figure in the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center), was formally charged on October 13 for his alleged involvement in smuggling gold worth over 85 million Nepali rupees-equivalent to around $600,000-into the country. The charges, confirmed in court documents seen by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), represent a significant moment in the interim administration’s effort to restore public faith in governance after weeks of chaos that left the country on edge.

Mahara’s indictment comes roughly a month after mass protests forced the collapse of the previous administration, accused of endemic corruption, nepotism, and disregard for democratic accountability. The so-called “Gen Z” protests, led predominantly by young Nepalis frustrated by years of economic stagnation and political dysfunction, erupted after a government decision to ban social media platforms. The ban-initially justified as an effort to curb misinformation-backfired spectacularly, sparking outrage and drawing hundreds of thousands into the streets.

The demonstrations quickly transformed from digital rights protests into a broader anti-corruption........

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