Kathmandu, 29 March (H.S.):

Balendra Shah's new government in Nepal ramped up its investigation Sunday into former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife Dr Arzu Deuba on charges of amassing unexplained and illegal wealth under political cover a complaint already lodged with the Property Purification Investigation Department.

Sources in the Home Ministry and Nepal Police revealed authorities compiled details on roughly 73 bighas of land bought in the last 18 months under names of Deuba Arzu their son Jayveer Deuba and close kin. The department is digging into transactions in accounts of Arzu Rana's brothers Pradeep Shamser Rana and Bhushan Rana plus other relatives.

A senior official noted work to demolish the Deuba residence in Budhanilkantha was halted to preserve evidence. The family had built two bungalows on one compound drawing prior complaints with Gen Z protests last year sparking an attack arson and viral footage of crores in rupees plus stacks of US dollars allegedly burning inside.

Police sources said laborers hired recently to raze the damaged structure were stopped on orders fearing destruction of crucial proof. Arzu Rana faces renewed scrutiny in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam where Tibetan Nepali and Chinese nationals were sent to America posing as Bhutanese refugees pocketing 65 lakhs to 1 crore per head.

Deuba and family are currently in Singapore with Home Ministry directing Nepal Police to coordinate with Interpol for their return a formal letter going out today.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar