KATHMANDU: Vice-Chair of the CPN (UML) and former finance minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has been arrested from Surkeht at 6 PM on Monday in connection with a money laundering investigation.

According to the Chief District Police Office, Surkhet, Deputy Superintendent of Police Thakur Prasad Poudel, former Minister Paudel was arrested from the meeting hall of Shubha Hotel located at Birendranagar Municipality-3 of Surkhet.

Superintendent of Police Poudel said that Surkhet Police took the UML leader to Nepalgunj through a land route to send him to Kathmandu today.

It is reported that Vice President Poudel had come to Surkhet for a program to review the UML’s election and collect suggestions regarding party reorganization.

Paudel hails from Rupandehi, Butwal Sub-metropolitan City-9 and is currently residing at the Saibu Housing Project in Lalitpur, Lalitpur Metropolitan City-25, according to police.

UML Vice-chair Paudel was arrested by a special police team of 10 led by Superintendent of Police Thakur Prasad Poudel.