By Our Reporter  It seemed the top Maoist leaders had engaged in money-making business after they joined mainstream politics in 2006. It is evident from the arrest of the vice chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre) and former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara in the case related to gold smuggling on Monday. Mahara was arrested from Kapilvastu when he was heading to India to evade the arrest. He was brought to Kathmandu and presented to the Crime Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal on Monday itself. He has been remanded in a four-day custody and as his health is poor, he is admitted to Norvic Hospital. His son Rahul Mahara is in jail on the same gold smuggling case. A few days ago, the CIB arrested Dipesh Pun, son of former vice president and Maoist leader Nanda Bahadur Pun on a case related to gold smuggling, and embezzlement of money from cooperatives. According to an investigation, the entire team of the secretariat of former Vice President Pun was found involved in gold smuggling. Even Maoist leader and Finance Minister Barsaman Pun was once found in close contact with the Chinese national who was later found to be the mastermind behind the smuggling of gold into Nepal. However, it is not sure whether these leaders were involved in the crime for themselves the party leadership or someone else. Many people still remember the comments made by Mahara a few months ago. Then he said that they were the only pawns; the kings were someone else.