Nepali Congress lawmaker Sunil Kumar Sharma has been arrested on charges of forging educational certificates. It is alleged that Sharma purchased a fake higher secondary academic degree from Bihar and used it to pursue higher studies in China. He was apprehended by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police in Kathmandu.

Sharma, who represents Morang-3 in the House of Representatives, is considered close to the Shekhar Koirala faction within the Nepali Congress. His arrest has caused tensions within the ruling coalition. The arrest of Sharma comes after he demanded the resignations of Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat.

This demand was connected to the alleged smuggling of 100 kg of gold, which was seized in a raid last month. Eighteen individuals, including an Indian and a Chinese national, have already been arrested in connection with the gold smuggling. Sharma, who owns multiple medical colleges and private institutions, argued that the resignations of the finance and home ministers would facilitate the investigation into the gold smuggling incident.

However, Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat rejected Sharma's demand, stating that the MP's anger was a result of the government's refusal to grant insurance coverage to patients in his private hospital. This arrest and scandal highlight the issue of forged educational certificates in Nepal.

The CIB revealed that some doctors have received registration from the Nepal Medical Council by submitting fake academic certificates from India. Additionally, Sharma's I.Sc. certificate was found to be 'not verified' by the National Examinations Board. These instances contribute to the growing concerns over the credibility and verification process of educational qualifications in the country.