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Deuba returns to Nepal after five months abroad amid financing questions

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Former Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is returning to Kathmandu after a five-month absence for medical treatment, with his party planning a welcome.
  • Questions surround the financing of Deuba's extended stay abroad, particularly as a money-laundering investigation into his family was ongoing before his departure.
  • Sources at the central bank indicated the Deuba family did not seek official approval for foreign currency exchange for medical treatment, raising further concerns.

Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is set to return to Nepal on Thursday, concluding a five-month stay abroad that began with a medical trip to Singapore. His faction within the Nepali Congress is reportedly preparing a significant welcome for him.

However, Deuba's prolonged absence and his return from Hong Kong, rather than Singapore, have left many questions unanswered. The exact duration and details of his movements between Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as the specific medical treatments received, remain undisclosed by Deuba, his wife Arzu Rana, and their son Jaybir.

In recent months, there has been no request from the family for foreign currency exchange for foreign travel, medical treatment, religious pilgrimage, or any other purpose.

— NRB officialAn official at Nepal Rastra Bank commented on the lack of official requests for foreign currency exchange by the Deuba family for medical treatment.

The financing of their extended stay and medical care has become a focal point of concern. This is particularly sensitive given that a money-laundering investigation into the Deuba family was initiated before their departure, leading to the freezing of their domestic assets and bank accounts. While Nepali citizens can obtain foreign currency for medical needs through official channels, sources at Nepal Rastra Bank suggest the Deuba family did not seek such approval. They may have used commercial banks, which would not necessarily be recorded by the central bank, but this still fuels speculation.

The investigation, which began in November last year, resulted in the freezing of assets belonging to the couple, their son, and relatives. Investigators confirm the freeze order remains active. This situation adds another layer of scrutiny to Deuba's return, as politicians' overseas medical trips have often drawn public attention, especially when not conducted through formal or state-supported arrangements.

However, Nepali citizens can also obtain foreign currency exchange through commercial banks. If they obtained it that way, the information would not necessarily be available to Nepal Rastra Bank.

— NRB officialThe same official explained a potential loophole through which the Deuba family might have obtained foreign currency without central bank approval.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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