KATHMANDU, Nov 17: The Department of Money Laundering Investigation (DoMLI) has received a forensic report confirming remnants of Nepali and foreign currency in the ashes of the burnt houses of Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, former CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal and NC leader Deepak Khadka.
The ashes, from houses set on fire during the Gen Z protests, were collected by DoMLI and Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and sent to the police forensic lab for analysis. Although the report was received a few days ago, it has not yet been made public. Investigation teams had also documented the residences of then Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli along with the houses of Deuba, Dahal and Khadka.
“The notes and ashes found in the houses of Deuba, Dahal and Khadka were forensically examined. Following the report, Prime Minister Sushila Karki and Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal were briefed,” a DoMLI source said.
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The report now provides grounds for investigating Deuba, his wife Arzu, Dahal and Khadka for possible money laundering.
During the Gen Z protests on September 9, videos circulated showing large amounts of cash burning in the houses of the three leaders. In Khadka’s case, protestors were even seen throwing bundles of money outside. Following these incidents, the DoMLI and CIB collected the ashes and other remnants for examination.
“Ashes from residences flagged as suspicious were collected for various tests. With the report now received, further investigations will proceed,” a senior official from the Prime Minister’s Office said. However, DoMLI Director General Gajendra Thakur claimed he was unaware of the matter, stating, “I was in ministry meetings all morning; the spokesperson or information officer may know.” Attempts to contact Spokesperson Nirmal Dhakal and Information Officer Jitendra Adhikari were unsuccessful.
DoMLI said burnt pieces of dollars and Nepali currency (1,000 and 500 denomination notes) were found at Deuba’s Budhanilkantha residence. Some reports suggested the existence of a money-storage tunnel, but this has not been confirmed. Deuba’s personal secretary Bhanu Deuba denied the claim. Videos also showed broken safes in Dahal’s residence. In Oli’s residence, only books were reportedly burned, with no further details disclosed by DoMLI.
Investigations into potential money laundering involving Deuba, Arzu and Khadka are ongoing. On September 21, a DoMLI team visited the residences of Deuba and Khadka to assess damages and document evidence. Social media photos and videos were also sent for forensic analysis.
In her national address on September 25, Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki confirmed that government agencies had begun probing suspicious amounts of cash visible during vandalism and arson incidents targeting private homes during the Gen Z protests.
