Kathmandu, October 1
Authorities have written to a court seeking the appearance of a man who was not prosecuted 13 years ago in a red sandalwood smuggling case because his exact whereabouts were unknown.
The man, Nabin Raj Basnet of Dolakha, is currently being investigated by the Department of Money Laundering Investigation. During the investigation, authorities found that he was a fugitive in a red sandalwood smuggling case dating back to April 22, 2013.
Authorities have now identified him as the same Nabin Raj Basnet who had worked closely with Pradeep Adhikari, the former director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), who was later prosecuted by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority.
At the time of the sandalwood case, a person named Nabin Raj Basnet was listed as a fugitive, but his exact address was not known. The case was registered with the provision that he would be prosecuted if his whereabouts were established.
The Department of Money Laundering Investigation has now written to the Division Forest Office, stating that his address and identity details have been established and requesting that he be located and produced before the Kathmandu District Court.
According to the department’s letter, documents obtained from the Inland Revenue Office, Koteshwor, included records of Kalinchowk Mai Suppliers, operated by Basnet, as well as a copy of the citizenship certificate of Nabin Raj Basnet, whose details had also been mentioned in the complaint.
The letter states that the Kathmandu District Court’s decision of June 22, 2025, had kept Basnet’s case pending because his exact address was unknown. It requests that he now be located and produced before the court based on the newly obtained documents.
The Office of the Government Attorney, Kathmandu, has also been informed about the development.
Two others convicted in sandalwood smuggling case
In the original red sandalwood smuggling case, a bench of then Kathmandu District Court judge Ramesh Raj Pokharel convicted Bhim Kumar Sunuwar and Khem Bahadur Singh.
They were each sentenced to six months in prison and fined Rs 361,600.
They had been arrested on April 1, 2013.
What was the case about?
On March 31, 2013, police received information that red sandalwood was being smuggled in a mini-truck with registration number Ba 1 Kha 5759.
Police intercepted the truck while it was travelling from Guheshwori towards Gothatar in Kathmandu.
A search of the truck found red sandalwood concealed under sand in the rear section. Nine pieces of red sandalwood were recovered, and driver Bhim Bahadur Sunuwar of Kakurthakur, Sindhuli, and his assistant Khem Bahadur Singh of Hariwan, Sarlahi, were arrested.
The Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka, investigated the case.
During the investigation, the arrested men told police that Nabin Raj Basnet, the owner of Kalinchowk Suppliers, had called them on March 29, 2013, instructing them to transport sand.
According to their statements, Basnet travelled ahead on a motorcycle while they followed in the truck. The vehicle was subsequently intercepted by police.
Investigators also found that Basnet had rented the truck from Ramesh Prajapati under a one-year agreement signed on November 9, 2012, at a monthly rent of Rs 25,000.
However, when the case was filed, only the driver and assistant were made defendants on the grounds that Basnet’s address was unknown.
The report alleges that investigators at the time did not conduct further inquiries into who owned Kalinchowk Suppliers and did not include Basnet as a defendant.
Basnet also under money laundering investigation
Nabin Raj Basnet is also being investigated for alleged money laundering.
According to sources at the Department of Money Laundering Investigation, authorities are collecting documents related to Basnet and have requested records from various government agencies.
“We have started the investigation. We have asked various agencies to provide documents related to his assets. A detailed investigation will be conducted after all the information is received,” a department source said.
The department is currently examining the assets of Basnet, his family members and business partners.
A department source claimed that a significant amount of land has been found in the Kathmandu Valley in connection with Basnet.
Basnet, who is described as coming from a modest economic background, is now considered financially well-off. Companies linked to him and his family include Sandarbhik Construction Service Pvt Ltd, Nil David International Unisex Salon, Kshamadevi Construction Solution Pvt Ltd, Dreamtown Developers Pvt Ltd, Kshamadevi Interior and Kshamadevi International Pvt Ltd.
According to department sources, some assets are registered in the names of family members and some in the names of business partners who share the Basnet surname. Authorities are examining the sources of those assets.
The department also claims to have found a substantial amount of land registered not only in Basnet’s name but also in the names of family members and relatives.
A department official said a preliminary investigation showed that 72 ropanis of land had been purchased and developed in Duwakot, Bhaktapur, in partnership with other shareholders of Dream Town Developers.
The official said authorities were also investigating large land holdings in Sinamangal, Duwakot, Jorpati, Koteshwor, Thimi and Balkot registered in the names of different individuals.
“More land appears to be registered in the names of his partners and relatives than in Basnet’s own name. If the source of the assets cannot be established, everyone involved will come under investigation,” the official told Onlinekhabar.
The department said it has previously filed a money laundering case against 26 people, including Dipak Bhatt, and continues to investigate other major cases of a similar nature.
Basnet’s connection to former CAAN chief
Earlier, the Kathmandu police investigated former CAAN Director General Pradeep Adhikari and others over allegations of threatening the then CIAA chief and other senior officials.
Basnet and other individuals were also found to have connections to that case. However, no case was filed against them at the time, with authorities stating that further investigation was needed.
The investigation report stated that if evidence establishing the involvement of any person in the offence was found, a separate investigation report would be submitted under Section 35 of the National Penal Code.
Basnet also secured a contract three years ago to construct the taxiway and apron at Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa.
The contract was awarded to Ashish-Kshamadevi-Buddha Himalaya JV. Basnet was associated with Kshamadevi at the time.
