Nepalese police have arrested former commerce minister Shyam Sundar Gupta in connection with the abduction of an Indian origin businessman.
A police team arrested Gupta, who is also a member of parliament and the Chairman of Terai based Sadbhawana Party-Anandidevi, from his residence in Rupandehi district in western Nepal on Tuesday.
Gupta is accused of planning abduction of Indian origin businessman Pawan Shanghai. Gupta was attending his son's wedding in the western Nepal town when he was arrested, Police spokesperson Dhiraj Singh said.
Earlier, the police had arrested two persons - Akash Lama of Kavre district and Jit Bahadur Lama of Hetauda for their involvement in the abduction. On the basis of confession made by the duo, the police arrested Gupta for masterminding the abduction.
Fifty five year old Sanghai, who is the owner of Arya Pharmaceuticals, was abducted for ransom on December 22. He was released on January 11 after paying more than one crore rupees as ransom, according to sources close to the businessman. The police have informed Speaker of the Parliament Subhash Nemwang regarding the arrest of Gupta, Senior Superintendent of Police Bam Bahadur Bhandari said.