KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress lawmaker Ramhari Khatiwada has voiced serious concerns over the government’s failure to identify the real owners behind the seizure of Rs 250 million in illegal foreign currency from Tokha, Kathmandu, on March 18.

Speaking in Monday’s House of Representatives session, Khatiwada, who chairs the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, criticized the government for only arresting drivers and laborers while the masterminds behind the operation remain free.

“A driver and a businessman were arrested and detained, but who protected and financed this operation? Why has the main culprit not been identified? It is always the low-level operators who get jailed while the real owners escape punishment,” Khatiwada stated, demanding the government clarify the entire network involved.

Following the seizure, police detained Kusang Lama, the truck driver transporting the money, who remains in pre-trial detention.

The Department of Revenue Investigation later named Narayan Paudel of Sindhupalchok’s Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality–4 as the alleged owner. Paudel is related to Rajkumar Paudel, previously implicated in a 2018 gold smuggling case.

The Kathmandu Crime Investigation Office confirmed that the cash was recovered from Jhor on March 17 and revealed Narayan Paudel’s prior convictions related to illegal currency exchange and red sandalwood smuggling.

Khatiwada urged a full investigation and disclosure of all individuals and networks involved, including political and cross-border connections, insisting the government be transparent with Parliament.