Former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana’s Home Raided by Money Laundering Department

Kathmandu, October 7, 2026: Nepal’s Department of Money Laundering Investigation has raided the residence of former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana, according to sources cited by local media.

The department reportedly carried out searches at the homes of Rana, some people close to him, and his relatives on Wednesday. The searches are part of an investigation into financial and other connections involving Rana and people associated with him.

Several Locations Searched

According to reports, the department searched the homes of around half a dozen people and recovered documents considered important to the investigation.

Other reports have named several individuals whose residences were searched, including Navaraj Thapaliya, Dipak Timalsina and Narayan Dahal, along with some of Rana’s relatives. Rana’s brother Prabhu Shumsher Rana and son-in-law Nabin Basnet have also been reported among those whose homes were searched.

The exact findings from the searches have not been publicly detailed.

Investigation Follows Rana’s Recent Police Detention

The latest development comes days after Rana was taken from his Maharajgunj residence by the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office.

Police had initially described the action as being related to a security threat, and Rana was released after around 12 hours. Police later said he had been brought under protection after receiving information about a possible threat to his safety.

Reports have since said investigators examined data from Rana’s mobile phone and identified connections with other individuals. These reports should be treated as allegations or preliminary investigative claims unless confirmed by the authorities.

Links With Other Individuals Under Investigation

According to police-related reports, Inam Sapkota, who was described as being in contact with Rana, was detained and questioned as investigators examined the connections found through mobile data.

A later report by Ratopati said preliminary investigation had indicated communications involving Sapkota, Rana and businessmen Dipak Bhatt and Sulabh Agrawal, who are in custody in connection with money laundering-related cases.

However, the searches do not by themselves establish wrongdoing by Rana or any of the other people whose homes were searched. The investigation will need to establish whether any financial or criminal offence occurred.

Wider Investigation

The development also comes amid a broader investigation involving former police officials and alleged leakage of sensitive information connected to Rana's recent detention.

The government has suspended Armed Police Force AIG Banshi Raj Dahal, citing allegations involving conduct and leakage of sensitive information. Reports have linked the investigation to Dahal's reported visit to Rana while Rana was being held by police, although authorities have not publicly disclosed all details of the alleged information leak.

The Department of Money Laundering Investigation has yet to publicly provide a detailed statement on the latest searches and their findings.