High-level probe commission submits report on gold smuggling to home minister after 5 months of investigation

Published On: March 14, 2024 02:02 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, March 14: The high-level probe commission formed by the government last October to investigate the 61 kg gold smuggling case submitted its report prepared after five months of investigation to Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane on Thursday morning.

The government formed a 3-member commission in October 2023 under the leadership of former high court judge Dilli Raj Acharya. The commission has claimed to have prepared the report after conducting a detailed study on the 61 kg gold case and the smuggling of gold concealed in vape.

The Cabinet meeting on February 26 extended the commission's deadline until mid-March. Before that, the term of the commission was extended by two months.

The government formed a commission under the leadership of former high court judge Acharya on October 1. The Commission was initially given 3 months’ time.

After the extension of the deadline, the commission took statements from the vice chairman of CPN (Maoist Center) Krishna Bahadur Mahara and some businessmen who were allegedly involved in the gold smuggling case.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police interrogated Mahara in the 9 kg gold smuggling case related to gold concealed in vape a year ago but did not file a case against him. On December 25, 2022, Chinese nationals imported 9 kg of gold in 730 electronic cigarettes (Vape) from Fly Dubai.

The Mahara family was found to be connected with those involved in the gold smuggling. Mahara's son Rahul is in custody pending trial in this case.

Similarly, the CIB initiated a general inquiry when Jhalakram Adhikari, the former director general of the immigration department of Tribhuvan International Airport, was linked to the 61 kg gold smuggling case. Although the 61 KG gold smuggling through the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) took place on July 18 last year, the smuggling of gold through the TIA has not stopped even now.

On November 30 last year, Chandra Ghale of Gorkha was apprehended by customs officials at the TIA with 14 kg of gold. Following the arrest, the Attorney General’s Office instructed investigations into individuals such as Ankit Agarwal, Rajendra Basnet, Bimal Poddar, Raj Kamar Bharti, and Jeewan Gurung, who are all implicated in the case.