On June 23, former Nepalese Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel was arrested on charges of money laundering. This action took place in the context of the new government stepping up a campaign to crack down on corruption allegations under previous governments.
Mr. Paudel, 66, is a key figure in the previous government of Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli. According to police, he was arrested at a hotel in western Nepal.
Police spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle said that Mr. Paudel is being taken back to Kathmandu and will be handed over to the Money Laundering Investigation Department.
The arrest took place months after Mr. Oli's government was overthrown after bloody anti-corruption protests, killing at least 76 people and injuring more than 2,500. Many government buildings, including the parliament building, were burned down.
Mr. Oli and the Interior Minister were arrested for failing to prevent violence. Both have now been released on bail.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah, a 36-year-old rapper who switched to politics, came to power in March after winning overwhelming credentials with a commitment to handling corruption.
