PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered 115 tolas of gold and made further arrests in the ongoing Rs40 billion Kohistan mega corruption scandal, officials confirmed on Monday.

According to NAB sources, the gold was recovered during a raid at the residence of Bilal Shah, a close aide of the prime suspect, Qaiser Iqbal. Investigators also discovered that Shah owns a plot valued at Rs60 million in Abbottabad.

NAB officials further revealed that police sub-inspector Naseeruddin has been arrested in connection with the case. Transactions amounting to Rs35 million were reportedly made into his account by the main accused, Qaiser Iqbal.

Another luxury bungalow worth Rs60 million, allegedly owned by Qaiser Iqbal but registered in his brother’s name, has also been sealed.

The anti-graft body recently arrested eight more suspects, raising the total number of arrests to 26. The suspects include government officials, contractors, and bank employees accused of siphoning Rs40 billion through fake companies and forged documents.

Sources added that 10 of the arrested individuals have submitted applications for plea bargains, though NAB has rejected the requests of key suspects, including contractor Muhammad Ayub. Among those seeking plea deals are Qaiser Iqbal and his wife, whose accounts reportedly contained Rs10 billion.

NAB has so far recovered more than Rs5 billion linked to the case.

Earlier, key suspects including Ulfat Ali from the District Accounts Office Kohistan, Abdul Basit from the C&W Department, and contractors Sartaj Khan and Yahya were arrested in coordinated raids. Others detained include contractors Muhammad Ayub, Duraj Khan, Aamir Saeed, Muhammad Riaz, and Subedar Khan.