A close relative of former Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is involved in an arms deal with China that is being conducted in violation of due process, a member of the Nepalese Pratinidhi Sabha has alleged. Speaking to The Hindu from Kathmandu, Amaresh Kumar Singh, an independent MP has alleged that Bhushan Rana, brother-in-law of Mr. Deuba is involved in the arms deal that is prompting Nepal to purchase items like Armoured Personnel Careers (APCs), and tactical vehicles worth at least NR 6 billion.
“Bhushan Rana, brother in law of former Prime Minister Deuba is involved in the arms deal which amounted to NR 6 billion. This also involved local agent Lokendra Bahadur Karki who has powerful political connections within Nepali Congress. There were protests against the arms deal and as a result the negotiations were paused. The deal has not been cancelled,” said Mr. Singh who has been in news in recent weeks because of his strong anti-corruption speeches within the Nepalese Parliament.
Mr. Singh alleged that corruption has struck deep roots within the Deuba-led Nepali Congress as well as the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) which is led by former PM K.P. Sharma Oli. Mr. Singh further alleged that Thailand-based middleman Lokendra Bahadur Karki was involved in inflating the prices of items in the arms deal by around 30 percent. Lokendra Bahadur Karki is the brother of former minister for information and telecommunication Gyanendra Bahadur Karki who served during the Premiership of Mr. Deuba.
