A section officer has been arrested for giving Nepali citizenship to two Chinese nationals, who are in police custody on the charge of gold smuggling.
Ram Chandra Aryal, a sixth level officer working at Bagmati Province Assembly Secretariat, was arrested from Hetauda on Wednesday. Aryal was transferred to the Bagmati Province Assembly Secretariat from Transport Management Office in Thulo Bharyang, Kathmandu.
Chief of District Police Office, Makawanpur, Sitaram Rijal said that Aryal was arrested at the request of the District Police Office, Kavre. Aryal has been sent to Kavre.
Aryal has been charged of extending support to provide Nepali citizenship to the Chinese nationals while working as the Nayab Subba at the District Administration Office, Kavre.
As revealed from the police investigation, the officials of the Kavre District Administration Office had given the Nepali citizenship on the basis of descent to the Chinese.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police is also investigating into the case.
The Kavre District Administration Office had issued Nepali citizenships on the basis of descent in the name of Belgian citizen Dawa Tshiring of Tibetan origin and Chinese national Dawa Jin Wang in January 2018.
Aryal had entered those names in the computer system as revealed from the investigation.
Dawa had taken the Nepali citizenship in the name of Nima Tamang while Wang took by putting his pseudo name Pasang Tamang.
Investigations into Jhapendra Raj Kharel, another government official supporting in issuing citizenships, are ongoing, according to the police.
