KATHMANDU, Feb 9: The high-level probe commission formed to investigate the recent cases of gold smuggling has interrogated CPN (Maoist Centre) Vice-Chairman Krishna Bahadur Mahara and proprietor of Bidh Lab, Bhimkant Bhandari.

The commission recorded statements from them at the commission's office in Singha Durbar on Thursday afternoon.

In his statement, Mahara has admitted calling the then head of Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office, Arun Pokharel. Mahara admitted that he had an old acquaintance with the Chinese gold smuggler Daojin Wang and gave a statement that he made the call because Wang was known as a fruit merchant and not as a gold smuggler.

There is no difference between Mahara's statement to the Commission and the statement he gave to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB). He also said that he had no information about gold smuggling.

The committee formed to investigate the smuggling of gold through vape and the smuggling of gold recovered from outside the airport took statements from Mahara. The committee is led by former judge Dilliraj Acharya.

Mahara's son Rahul is currently in custody pending trial in the case of smuggling nine kg of gold through vape. The commission has already taken statements from Rahul.

On Thursday, the statement was taken from Bhimkant Bhandari, in addition to former Speaker Mahara. Earlier, the Central Investigation Bureau CIB of Nepal Police also released Bhandari, who was accused in the case of 61 kg gold smuggling.

Bhandari's name has also been linked to the case of gold smuggling hidden in vape. He was also under investigation due to his conversations with Chinese nationals involved in smuggling.

Police sources claim that Bhandri’s activities are suspicious. On October 1, the Council of Ministers formed the commission on the control of illegal importation (trafficking) of gold.

The deadline for the commission was extended by two months after the initial period had elapsed. The commission will submit its report in a month. The Commission has taken statements from Joint Secretary Jhalak Ram Adhikari, Chudamani Upreti 'Gorey' who is in the Central Jail, and all those involved in the gold case and involved in the controversy.

The committee also took information from CIB officials who investigated about 61 kg of gold. Similarly, the Commission also took information from some media persons who reported on gold smuggling.

 
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