FinMin Pun linked to a gold smuggling network!

CDR reveals intricate web

KATHMANDU, March 13: In the ongoing investigation by Nepal Police's Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), it's been discovered that Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has been in touch with gold smugglers. This revelation surfaced when questions arose regarding the possible involvement of former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun's family in gold smuggling.

According to information obtained from the call detail records (CDR) by CIB sources, Finance Minister Pun was in contact with Jiban Kumar Gurung, a figure linked to gold smuggling. The Department of Customs is also conducting an investigation, revealing that between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, Finance Minister Pun and Gurung had 11 phone conversations.

The call details indicate that Pun dialed Gurung's number six times from his mobile phone, while Gurung called Pun seven times. However, specific details regarding the content of their conversations have not yet been disclosed.

Gurung, currently in custody for investigation, has acknowledged having a conversation with Barshaman Pun. However, he has not disclosed the content of their discussion. A source from the CIB said, "It appears that there was indeed a conversation, as the accused Gurung has admitted to it, but the specifics of the conversations remain undisclosed. Further investigation is underway regarding this matter."

Gurung, allegedly connected to gold smuggling, is employed in the secretariat of former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun. Following the contact between Gurung and Barshaman Pun, the police have initiated additional investigations. Previously, Gurung's name surfaced in connection with Dawa Tshering, a Tibetan-origin Indian citizen, and Amala Roka from Rolpa, both implicated in gold smuggling. Gurung has requested a thorough and impartial investigation into these allegations.

During that period, Gurung personally contacted the Inspector General of Police, urging for an investigation into the matter. Finance Minister Barshaman Pun's brother, Pranish Pun, owns a gold mining company named Vienna Multipurpose. Pranish had direct dealings with Dawa Tshering, who was arrested on charges of gold smuggling.

Additionally, there's a company associated with Amala Roka, Deepak Budha, and Sisam Roka, purportedly engaged in gold mining. However, when questioned about his involvement, Barshman Pun denied any connection to these actions. He said, "If any member of my family is involved in gold smuggling, I will report it to the police." Furthermore, he claimed to have no recollection of any conversations with Gurung.

"I don't remember a conversation between me and Gurung, but there may have been some conversations during the meeting with the former vice president, I may not have remembered," said Pun. According to him, former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun is a close relative and he has close relations with him as they worked together in the party.

“Many questions have been raised now. I have already spoken with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. Investigation is being done. Even if my family members are found involved, action will be taken, no one will get immunity. Not everyone is guilty enough to talk to someone who has committed a crime on the phone,” he said.

"Former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun and I share close familial ties; we are neighbors. Gurung was part of his secretariat and it is likely that we had a conversation during that time. I have previously served as Finance Minister, as well as in other key ministries like Energy and Peace. My track record speaks for itself – I am not one to engage in activities like harming the country through revenue evasion,” he said.

“Given the recent scrutiny, I have already discussed the matter with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. Investigations are underway. Should any of my family members be implicated, they will face consequences – no one will be shielded from accountability. Not everyone who holds a phone conversation with a guilty is guilty himself,” he said.

When the police were investigating the involvement of former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun's family members in gold smuggling, they found that gold smugglers had contacted Finance Minister Barshaman Pun. "Be it Nanda Bahadur or Barshaman, families of both have been found to be closely related to people involved in gold smuggling," said a CIB official.

Jitendra and Dipesh, two sons of former Vice President Pun, are involved in smuggling. The CIB acquitted Dipesh saying that despite the investigation, no grounds were found for prosecuting the case. Jitendra is outside Nepal. On December 7, some 14 kg of gold brought in a FlyDubai aircraft was seized by the customs office of Tribhuvan International Airport. Chandra Ghale was arrested for allegedly being involved in it.

Jiban Gurung was on the run after Ghale was arrested. The police were looking for him. During the search, Gurung was arrested from Samakhusi area on February 26. A six-member investigation committee was formed under the coordination of Chief Customs Officer Maniram Paudel of Airport Customs Office to investigate the 14 kg of gold recovered from the airport.

The committee concluded that within the past year, individuals including Sun Gurung, Chandra Ghale, Min Bahadur Ghale, and Krishna Kumar Shrestha have been implicated in 138 kg of gold smuggling. Gurung, identified as the mastermind behind these smuggling operations since mid-November 2022, previously served as the foreign advisor to former Vice President Nanda Kishor Pun and holds a directorial position at Platinum College.

Numerous family members of Nanda Kishor Pun, a former commander in the 10-year Maoist armed conflict, as well as certain individuals from his secretariat, have been linked to gold smuggling activities. In the call detail records (CDR) obtained, it has been found that Gurung and Dipesh Pun exchanged numbers a total of 184 times.

Gurung, currently in custody, has been observed in communication with another gold smuggling figure, Min Bahadur Ghale, 553 times. Ghale involves his wife, Dhankumari Ghale, in his smuggling activities, as evident from their phone contact records. Gurung and Dhankumari Ghale had 102 conversations according to the CDR. Furthermore, Gurung's communication with former Vice President Nanda Kishor Pun has been documented 33 times, shedding light on the intricate network in gold smuggling.