The Department of Money Laundering Investigation (DMLI), an investigative body under Nepal’s Ministry of Finance, raided the homes of former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana and his close associates and relatives in Kathmandu on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The simultaneous raids were conducted as part of an ongoing investigation into Rana’s assets and alleged money laundering activities.
According to sources from the department and close to Prime Minister Balen Shah, DMLI teams conducted searches at the residences of Rana, former judge Navaraj Thapaliya, Deepak Timilsina, and Narayan Dahal. The raids also extended to Rana’s brother, Prabhu Shumsher Rana, and his son-in-law, Nabin Basnet.
Sources claim that important documents were seized during the raids. The DMLI had previously stated that a complaint questioning Rana’s assets was under investigation.
Previous Investigations and Arrests
This latest action follows a series of investigations into former Chief Justice Rana. Just days earlier, on Sunday, September 27, 2026, a team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, a Nepal Police investigation unit, arrested Rana from his residence late at night. He was released after approximately 12 hours in custody. Police claimed Rana was taken into control due to “security challenges,” but the specific crime for which he was arrested was not explicitly disclosed.
Preliminary police investigations revealed that Rana had allegedly communicated with middleman Inam Sapkota, a US green card holder from Jhapa, to settle cases involving controversial businessmen Deepak Bhatta and Sulabh Agrawal. Following the discovery of his contact with Sapkota, Deepak Bhatta, who was already in judicial custody on a money laundering charge, was transferred from Nakhkhu Prison to Sindhupalchok Prison.
The DMLI’s investigation has also opened avenues to probe alleged irregularities in the construction of the Supreme Court and Bhaktapur District Court buildings during Rana’s tenure as Chief Justice. These contracts were reportedly awarded to Samanantar Nirman Sewa.
Rana’s legal troubles date back to Falgun 2078 (BS), when an impeachment motion was registered against him in the House of Representatives. Following the registration of the motion, he was suspended from his duties as Chief Justice. The Impeachment Recommendation Committee investigated the allegations against him and even took his statement. However, the impeachment process could not reach a final conclusion as the parliamentary term ended, paving the way for further investigations.
Future of the Investigation and Unanswered Questions
The Department of Money Laundering Investigation is expected to intensify its probe into Rana and individuals connected to him. The former Chief Justice’s arrest and the subsequent raids have also sparked debate in the parliament.
Demands have been raised in parliament that the government publicly disclose the facts regarding the use of state power and the former Chief Justice’s activities, providing clear information to the parliament. Rana’s silence following these events has led to speculation about his strategy, preparation for legal challenges, or an undisclosed understanding with the government.
Several questions remain unanswered in this high-profile case. The specific crime for which Rana was arrested on September 27, 2026, has not been clarified by the police. The full details of the “connections” involving former judges, middlemen, former ministers, and prominent industrialists linked to the Rana case are yet to be made public. Furthermore, the detailed contents of the “important documents” seized during the DMLI raids have not been disclosed. The nationality of individuals like Navaraj Thapaliya, Deepak Timilsina, Narayan Dahal, Prabhu Shumsher Rana, and Nabin Basnet has also not been specified. The final outcome of the DMLI’s investigation and the subsequent legal actions against those involved are still pending.
