KATHMANDU: Former Chairman of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), Bhupendra Bhandari, has been arrested in connection with alleged irregularities related to Smart Cell.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police arrested Bhandari from Dhapakhel, Ward No. 23 of Lalitpur Metropolitan City. According to CIB spokesperson and SSP Anupam Shumsher Jabara, he was taken into custody for investigation into the Smart Cell case. Police said Bhandari is being investigated on allegations that the sale process of Smart Cell’s assets caused financial loss to the state.

Bhandari had previously served as an expert in the secretariat of former Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma. He was later appointed chairman of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority after then-chairman Purushottam Khanal was suspended following the filing of a corruption case related to the Teramocs (Teramax) scandal.
Police said further investigation into the case is ongoing.