KATHMANDU, Aug 4: The Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) is probing the one quintal gold smuggling case, but the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) is going to be assigned with investigating organized crime.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is ready to allow the CIB to investigate the gold smuggling case after the internal conflict within the party and pressure increased from all sides demanding fair investigation. According to sources, the DRI will send an official letter to the CIB requesting an investigation into organized crime and the CIB will investigate the transnational organized crime aspect of the smuggling, accordingly.
A total of US $480 dollars has been legally paid to enter the 154 kg of brake shoes of scooters in which smuggled gold was hidden, evading taxes. It is suspected that there is an organized gang involved in smuggling around one quintal of gold. There was widespread criticism for not including the police in the investigation into the smuggled gold, stating that the police were capable of investigating organized crime.
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On Thursday evening only Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Deputy Prime Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, IGP Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, AIG Kiran Bajcharya and Director General of the DRI had a discussion. Prime Minister Dahal was of the opinion that since the research team of the DRI has expertise, another investigative team should not be formed. After Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha disagreed, the two leaders had a debate regarding this issue. But after the discussion with the Attorney General on Friday morning, sources said that the PM Dahal decided to allow CIB to investigate the organized crime aspect of the smuggled gold case.
Chief of CIB Kiran Bajracharya has confirmed that the Prime Minister has instructed CIB to conduct further investigations into the gold smuggling case. “PM Dahal has already given the instructions. The investigation will start after the DRI sends a file of that incident,” said CIB chief, AIG Kiran Bajracharya.
“Despite the opposition parties' demand for a high-level investigation committee, the Prime Minister, who is not ready to form the committee, is also trying to silence the voice of the opposition by allowing the CIB to investigate,” the source said.
According to the DRI, only 18 people were arrested for their alleged involvement in gold smuggling. The CIB was kept aloof when it was suspected that its network could be spread to India, China and Dubai. The security agency suggested that the Prime Minister should be serious about the fact that it will be difficult to dismantle the network of mafia, if transnational organized crimes are not investigated in connection with national security.
