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In a major embarrassment for India, Nagaland Home Minister Imkong Inchen was briefly detained by the Nepalese police at the Kathmandu airport on Wednesday for flouting a currency ban.
Inchen, who was on a private visit to Nepal with his family, was found carrying Rs 9 lakh in cash with him, with most of the notes of 1,000 and 500 denomination, which are banned, said the police.
Possession of high denomination currency notes is a penal offence in Nepal and the offenders can face jail terms of up to five years or hefty fines. The minister told the police that he was not aware of the ban.
The minister missed his Jet Airways flight and official sources said he will return to Delhi in the afternoon as the police had not pressed charges against him.
Inchen was detained for questioning when he arrived at the airport at 9 am to catch a flight to Delhi after attending a marriage function in Kathmandu, Indian embassy sources said. The sources said it was normal procedure to question people carrying big denomination notes as these are banned in Nepal.